Kelly, Murray, Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Address Root Causes of Youth Homelessness

Legislation would authorize $105 million per year to prevent youth homelessness

Today, Senators Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced the bipartisan Preventing Youth Homelessness Demonstration Act to address the root causes of youth homelessness and expand prevention and support services for at-risk young people. The bill would authorize $105 million for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families (ACF) to invest in community-based solutions such as resource helplines, case management, and support groups.

This legislation will build off the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)'s Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program by addressing the conditions that contribute to youth homelessness and providing effective resources and support for young people and families who need them most.

"Every young person deserves the stability of a home," said Senator Kelly. "Right now, too many in Arizona and across the country are at risk of losing their housing. By stepping in earlier and supporting families before a crisis, we can keep kids stable, secure, and on a path to opportunity."

"No one should be homeless in America but especially not our kids-this is an issue Republicans and Democrats can come together on to make sure all of our kids have a safe place to call home," said Senator Murray. "That's why I'm working across the aisle to create these new grant programs that address the root causes of youth homelessness head on. We know what works. If our communities have the resources they need, we can prevent youth homelessness. I will not stop fighting to make sure we have the resources we need to ensure every young person has a roof over their head."

"Better equipping local leaders to take a comprehensive approach to addressing youth homelessness in Alaska and around the country must be a priority," said Senator Murkowksi. "The grant programs established through this legislation will give communities both the resources and the mechanisms to understand the root causes of youth homelessness and work upstream to identify and implement prevention measures to keep young people housed, safe, and supported."

"Youth homelessness is preventable, but only if communities have dedicated resources to identify young people at risk and connect them with effective support. SchoolHouse Connection is proud to endorse this legislation and thanks Senators Murray and Murkowski for their leadership on this critical issue. This bill reflects an important understanding: preventing youth homelessness requires targeted investment in upstream interventions, strong local partnerships, and a real federal commitment to helping young people and families achieve stability before they enter crisis," said Barbara Duffield, Executive Director, SchoolHouse Connection.

"For 37 years Covenant House Alaska has been the safe haven for youth experiencing homelessness and trafficking due to systems failure, unfortunate family circumstances, and a host of other reasons that made the street their final attempt to escape what were unimaginable situations. For the past two and a half years and for the foreseeable future we, along with support from our federal delegation, our local provider partners and our amazingly dedicated staff, will be focused on preventing young people in Alaska from ever being or feeling afraid of being homeless and the horrible experiences that inevitably set in motion years of insecurity and disfunction. We aim to end youth homelessness as we know it and our first full attempt in the form of a demonstration project has shown us that this is possible," said Alison Kear, Chief Executive Officer, Covenant House Alaska.

Click here to read the full text of the bill.