On Friday, August 7, U.S. Representatives John Yarmuth (D-KY), Don Bacon (R-NE), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), and Don Young (R-AK) introduced the bipartisan Emergency Family Stabilization Act, H.R. 7950 (EFSA). This legislation is the companion bill to S. 3923, introduced in the U.S. Senate on June 10 by U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), and Susan Collins (R-ME).

The House version of EFSA contains the following additions:

  • Provides $2 billion in flexible funding directly to community agencies (including local educational agencies) to respond to the emergency needs of children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness in the wake of the coronavirus, using the broader definition of homelessness. (The Senate bill provides $800 million.) 
  • Ensures that at least one agency in each state receives a grant. 
  • Provides that in awarding grants, special consideration is given to meeting the needs of pregnant women, pregnant and parenting youth, children under age 6, children with disabilities, families experiencing domestic violence, survivors of sexual assault or human trafficking, LGBTQIA individuals, and racial and ethnic minority populations.
  • Requires the agency that administers the funds – the Administration of Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) — to submit a Report to Congress summarizing data gathered from grantees.

Take Action Now

Please take action today to ensure that prolonged child and youth homelessness does not result from the COVID-19 outbreak.

1. Urge your U.S. House Representatives and U.S. Senators to join as cosponsors of the Emergency Family Stabilization Act (H.R.7950/S.3923). Use this action form to enter your zip code, and send a letter, which you can personalize with local or state facts, as well as your own perspectives and experiences.

EMAIL YOUR US REPRESENTATIVES & US SENATORS NOW

2. Endorse the legislation (local, state, or national organizations) by completing this sign-on form.

ENDORSE THIS CRITICAL LEGISLATION

3.  Share on Social Media:

Thank you @RepJohnYarmuth @RepDonBacon @RepDannyDavis and @repdonyoung for introducing the Emergency Family Stabilization Act to help meet the needs of children, youth, and families experiencing #homelessness in the wake of COVID-19. Learn more: https://bit.ly/37iUmRI @nn4youth

The Emergency Family Stabilization Act provides new flexible funding through the systems to which #homeless children, youth, and families are most connected: community-based organizations, schools, and early childhood programs. Learn how to support: https://bit.ly/37iUmRI @nn4youth

In the wake of #COVID19, children, youth, & families experiencing #homelessness face new barriers to stability. The Emergency Family Stabilization Act meets families and youth where they are, and provides flexible funding through @ACFHHS to help: https://bit.ly/37iUmRI @nn4youth

Additional Resources

Visit our EFSA Action Center

DATE

August 7, 2020

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