Housing (Homelessness)

HB 4531 would require West Virginia to provide homeless U.S. citizens residing at shelters with free identification documents, including photo ID cards, replacement driver’s licenses, and birth certificates. To qualify, applicants must live at a shelter, use the shelter’s address on their application, and have shelter staff verify their residency via an affidavit. The state would confirm U.S. citizenship using documents like birth certificates, passports, or naturalization certificates. Each eligible individual could receive only one document per 30-day period.

HB 4707 prohibits counties, cities, towns, and housing authorities from requiring hotels or motels to participate in programs that house homeless individuals or families using housing vouchers. The bill directly affects hotel and motel owners by preventing local governments or housing agencies from mandating their involvement in these programs. Key provisions define "homeless individuals" as those lacking fixed nighttime residence (e.g., living on streets, in shelters, or vehicles) and "hotels/motels" as establishments offering temporary overnight lodging. This bill does not create new housing programs but stops existing or future programs from forcing hotels or motels to join them.

SB 442 creates a new "homeless education coordinator" position in West Virginia counties designated as "urban" by the State Board of Education. This position will directly assist homeless children and youth in accessing and staying in school by addressing barriers to attendance and enrollment. The bill amends education law to clarify the coordinator's role in supporting homeless students, ensuring they receive necessary services under federal and state education requirements. The coordinator will work within designated urban counties to implement strategies that prevent school disruption for homeless students.