Rep. Sherrill Introduced The Legislation Earlier This Week
Morris Plains, NJ –– Today, Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) joined Family Promise of Morris County, JBWS, Homeless Solutions, Inc., and other local housing organizations to highlight her introduction of the bipartisan Homeless Children and Youth Act (HCYA) and tour Family Promise's facilities to discuss how this legislation would impact their work.
HCYA would align the definition of homelessness across federal agencies to help improve access to federal programs for homeless children, youth, and families. It will also increase flexibility for communities, organizations, and housing advocates to pursue proven strategies to address homelessness among young people. HCYA is supported by a wide range of both national and local organizations and has received bipartisan support.
"Over the past few years, we've seen a heartbreaking rise in childhood and youth homelessness, which has only been exacerbated by the pandemic and the ensuing economic fallout. It is our local housing organizations like Family Promise of Morris County, JBWS, Homeless Solutions, and all of the advocates with us at this event today that have been on the ground working tirelessly to address this crisis," said Rep. Sherrill. "I'm incredibly grateful for their work to help every child that does not have a safe place to call home. It was their work and activism that brought the need for this commonsense fix to the federal support system to my attention, and I could not be prouder to have introduced the Homeless Children and Youth Act to help ensure they have what they need to address this crisis."
"The Homeless Children and Youth act, known as HCYA, does several important things- allows communities to decide how to spend federal dollars so it makes sense for them; changes the definition of homelessness, so all groups experiencing homelessness have equal access to resources; and addresses glaring systemic inequities for families and youth of color who continue to be disproportionately affected by housing insecurity," Joann Bjornson, CEO Family Promise Morris County.
"Domestic violence is the leading cause of family homelessness and national estimates are that 80% of homeless mothers with children have previously experienced domestic violence," said Diane Williams, President and CEO of JBWS. "Communities, Morris County included, need to be able to use HUD funding more flexibly, effectively, and appropriately to meet the needs of children, youth, and families. HCYA requires HUD to score applications, such as ones for transitional housing, primarily on whether they are cost effective in meeting the priorities and goals that communities identify in their local plans rather than applying a cookie cutter approach to the issue."
"We thank Reps. Mikie Sherrill and Van Taylor and the Senate champions for leading the effort to align HUD's definition of homelessness with definitions used by other federal programs, so our most vulnerable youth are not excluded," said Kevin Ryan, President and CEO of Covenant House.
"Compounded by the pandemic, too many young people- especially youth of color, LGBTQ+ youth and those who are transitioning from our nation's foster care system- face unfathomable choices which result in leaving their homes, living on the streets, and experiencing lifelong trauma," said Darla Bardine, JD, Executive Director of the National Network for Youth (NN4Y). " We can and must do better for all young people and especially for those who are most at risk of experiencing homelessness."
"Now more than ever, HUD homeless assistance must be reformed to reflect how children and youth experience homelessness," said Barbara Duffield, Executive Director of SchoolHouse Connection. "Their homelessness is more hidden, but it is not less harmful. Bringing HUD in line with federal early care and education programs will remove barriers to assistance, and help communities leverage all available resources to stabilize some of our nation's most vulnerable children, youth, and families."
"Homeless Solutions applauds Congresswoman Sherrill for her leadership in introducing HCYA in the current legislative session," said Dan McGuire, CEO of Homeless Solutions, Inc. "The legislation will help align definitions of homelessness across federal agencies to ensure that all homeless children and families are properly accounted for. Significantly, HCYA eschews HUD's more prescriptive, one-size-fits-all approach to homelessness, and empowers communities to encourage innovation and support proven models of success in addressing local needs."
Rep. Sherrill also toured the Family Promise of Morris County facility. Family Promise, located in Morris Plains, is a shelter open to any Morris County resident facing homelessness or housing instability. Alongside Family Promise, representatives from other housing organizations that support HCYA, including Family Promise National, Homeless Solutions, JBWS, the Housing Alliance, the Morris County Housing Alliance, and the Housing and Community Development Network, were present.
If you or anyone you know is facing a housing crisis, you can contact the New Jersey Homeless Hotline by calling 2-1-1 or visit https://www.nj.gov/njhrc/ to find immediate resources.
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Original source can be found here.
