The BLANKET Act establishes a new federal grant program to help communities provide emergency shelter for homeless people during severe weather events such as heat waves, winter storms, floods, and wildfires. The bill requires the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to create a competitive grant program within one year, awarding funds to states, local governments, nonprofits, and housing agencies that demonstrate need and capacity to expand shelter services during dangerous weather. Grant money can be used to open warming and cooling centers, pay for hotel vouchers, hire shelter staff, purchase emergency supplies like generators and medical equipment, and coordinate with local emergency response systems. The legislation authorizes $750 million annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2029 to fund these grants. The Government Accountability Office must evaluate the program's effectiveness within five years and report to Congress on how many people were served and what barriers existed to implementation.
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