# Plain Language Summary: Expanding Service Coordinators Act

This bill is designed to strengthen and expand the role of service coordinators in affordable housing communities. Service coordinators are staff members who help residents access services like healthcare, job training, transportation, and social programs. Right now, many affordable housing buildings have these coordinators, but the support for their work is inconsistent. This bill aims to make sure they're better trained, better funded, and available in more places where they're needed.

The bill requires housing owners who receive federal funding to set aside at least $2,500 per year for each service coordinator to get professional training in areas like helping residents with healthcare, employment, and other support services. It also requires service coordinators to report annually on the training they've completed, so there's accountability and tracking of their professional development. The bill authorizes $225 million per year from 2023 through 2027 to fund these coordinator programs and related services for residents of federally assisted housing. Additionally, it makes service coordinators eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness, a federal program that can forgive student loans for people working in public service jobs—this could help attract and retain qualified people for these positions.

The bill also directs a study specifically focused on rural areas, since service coordination in rural housing communities faces unique challenges. Researchers will examine how many rural housing developments have coordinators, what happens to residents when they do or don't have one, and whether creative solutions like part-time coordinators or coordinators serving multiple sites could work better in rural areas. Finally, the bill provides an additional $45 million per year through 2027 to expand supportive services for residents of public and Indian housing. Overall, this bill is aimed at making sure low-income residents in federally assisted housing have better access to the help and resources they need to improve their lives.

Expanding Service Coordinators Act

Smith, Adam

Expanding Service Coordinators Act This bill reauthorizes through FY2027 funding for service coordinator programs, which embed staff in certain federally assisted housing to arrange for transportation, case management, and other supportive services for eligible residents. The bill also makes service coordinators eligible to have qualifying student loans discharged through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Additionally, the Government Accountability Office must study best practices and other matters concerning service coordinator programs in federally assisted housing in rural areas.