Published On: August 7, 20243.3 min read663 words

The Senate Committee on Appropriations passed their Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations Bill, and their Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) Appropriations Bill. Unlike the accompanying House Appropriations bills, the Senate bills maintain all funding that directly impacts youth, young adults, and young parents experiencing homelessness.

  • Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (HHS) program funding stayed the same at $146.28 million.
  • McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth (ED) program funding stayed the same at $129 million.
  • Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (HUD) funding stayed the same at $72 million, with up to an additional $10 million for technical assistance.
  • Youth Homelessness System Improvement grants (HUD) funding stayed the same at “Not less than $25 million.”
  • Emergency Solutions Grants (HUD) funding stayed the same at $290 million.

View the comparison table for additional program funding that impacts youth, young adults, and young parents.

Report Language

When Congress releases their appropriations bills, they typically release an accompanying bill report. The report contains additional information about the appropriations bills, such as justifications for funding levels. It may also include specific directives to federal agencies.

The Senate LHHS and THUD bill reports include important report language that highlights youth homelessness. The House reports did not include this language.

The Senate LHHS bill report reissues language from FY24 emphasizing the importance of supporting children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness (page 198). It directs the Administration for Children and Families to issue a report that will detail its plan to holistically address and end child, youth, and family homelessness.

The LHHS bill report also issues new language clarifying that young people who are systems-involved (ie., child welfare or juvenile justice) but are not being housed by those systems should be allowed to be housed by Runaway and Homeless Youth Act-funded programs (page 198).

The Senate LHHS bill report issues new report language (page 254) directing ED to issue guidance clarifying that Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program funds can be used for “extraordinary or emergency assistance needed to enable homeless children and youths to attend school and participate fully in school activities.” It points to the allowances specified in ED’s 2023 Dear Colleague Letter, which include “paying for short-term, temporary emergency housing (such as a hotel or motel room) on a case-by-case basis if reasonable and necessary.”

The Senate THUD bill report includes an important new section that highlights youth homelessness: “Youth homelessness is often invisible and includes vulnerable housing situations, such as couch surfing or staying with relatives. The [Appropriations] Committee remains concerned not only about youth homelessness overall, but also the increase in those numbers throughout the Nation” (page 152). The report language also directs the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) to publish a report on their progress in addressing the goals outlined in a 2021 Government Accountability Office report that offered USICH, HUD, and HHS ten recommendations to end youth and young adult homelessness.

What Happens Next?

Since the House and Senate appropriations bills are different, negotiations will begin after both Chambers return from their August recess. Representatives from the House and Senate will debate and compromise on funding levels and report language. In the meantime, it is likely that Congress will issue a continuing resolution, a temporary spending bill that keeps programs running at the same funding levels from the previous fiscal year (in this case, the same as FY24). It’s not certain when the negotiations will be finished and final appropriations bills released, but it will likely be after the November election.

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National Network for Youth thanks Senate Appropriators for maintaining funding for young people experiencing homelessness, and for highlighting the urgent need for better data and coordination in our federal efforts to end youth, young adult, and young parent homelessness. We also extend a huge thank you to the providers and young people across the country who met with their representatives in support of increased funding for these vital programs.