Safe Shelters for Survivors Act of 2026
House Bill Would Ban Registered Sex Offenders From Federally Funded Shelters
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill would stop registered sex offenders from staying at or using services from homeless and domestic violence shelters that receive federal money. The goal is to protect vulnerable people, like survivors of abuse and children, who are living in these temporary homes.
- If a shelter breaks this rule and lets a registered sex offender stay there, the government would take away all of that shelter's federal funding for the next year. This puts pressure on shelters to check the backgrounds of the people they help.
- Registered sex offenders would be required to tell shelter staff about their status as soon as they walk in. They are only allowed to enter these buildings to ask for information about other places to stay that do not receive federal funding.
- Any registered sex offender who knowingly breaks these rules or fails to tell staff about their status could be fined or sent to prison for up to five years. These new rules would start 180 days after the bill becomes a law.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Life & Work
Registered sex offenders would be banned from entering or using services at any federally funded domestic violence or homeless shelter. Those who violate the ban or fail to disclose their registry status could face up to 5 years in prison and fines. This effectively cuts off a key safety net for this population, as most shelters receive federal funds. Offenders would only be allowed to enter a covered shelter briefly to ask about alternative, non-federally-funded shelters.
Programs
Milestones
Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
3 articlesCongresswoman Nancy Mace introduces bill to block sex offenders from federally funded shelters
Rep. Nancy Mace introduced the 'Safe Shelters for Survivors Act of 2026,' which would prohibit registered sex offenders from entering or receiving services at federally funded domestic violence and homeless shelters, citing the need to protect vulnerable families fleeing abuse.
New Federal Bill Targets Sex Offenders in Homeless Shelters
While the Safe Shelters for Survivors Act aims to increase safety in temporary housing, critics argue that such measures exacerbate the homelessness crisis for those on registries who already face severe residency and employment restrictions.
Why laws named after tragedies win public support
Analysis of recent legislation, including the Safe Shelters for Survivors Act, suggests that naming bills after victims or survivors significantly boosts public approval, though experts warn of potential unintended consequences for the populations the laws target.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Safe Shelters for Survivors Act of 2026
Data Sources
Sponsor
Political Response
Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.