Published On: November 12, 20243.6 min read714 words

As the nation’s foremost coalition on preventing and ending youth homelessness, the National Network for Youth is deeply committed to a future in which all young people have a safe place to call home with endless opportunities to achieve their fullest potential.

The challenges ahead under the next administration and congressional leadership bring concerns for our community. We will not shy away from them.

The rhetoric, policies, and priorities from the previous Trump administration, as well as his campaign this year, have caused immense harm. During his first term, he directed agencies to roll back long-standing safety rails and protections for millions of Americans. The Department of Justice replaced the term “justice involved youth” with “offender” on its website, perpetuating a punitive, stigmatizing view of young people that undermines their potential and disregards the complexities of their circumstances. The Department of Housing and Urban Development directed housing providers and shelters to discriminate based on sexual orientation and gender identity, something that had been established in 2012 with the Equal Access Rule. These policies were reversed under the Biden administration.

Given his history and the inflammatory language of his campaign, his upcoming second term will have federal funding priorities and regulatory shifts that will negatively impact critical services and protections for youth experiencing homelessness, particularly for youth of color, LGBTQ+ youth, young parents, and other marginalized youth. These communities already face significant systemic barriers, and we must confront any and all policies that diminish their access to care and resources.

At NN4Y, our mission is nonpartisan and deeply principled. We believe in solutions grounded in equity, compassion, and evidence-based practice. We understand the policy challenges before us and we are committed to actions that amplify the voices of youth and protect their rights.

NN4Y’s Commitments to Action

  1. Advocate Relentlessly We work with policymakers on both sides of the aisle to advocate for policies that support young people experiencing homelessness. Our goal is to ensure that our national response to youth homelessness prioritizes preventing and ending youth, young adult, and young parent homelessness.
  2. Mobilize Our Network NN4Y will continue to empower our network of providers, advocates, and youth with resources, training, and opportunities to amplify their advocacy and influence change. Together, we will demonstrate the real-life impact of policies on youth, making their voices an undeniable force for reform.
  3. Collaborate and Innovate We remain committed to collaborating with organizations across the public and private sectors to develop and fund innovative solutions to address the root causes of youth homelessness. By strengthening our partnerships, we can develop and advance long-term, creative solutions that transform systems and improve outcomes for youth.
  4. Protect Equity and Inclusion NN4Y will actively resist any policy that undermines equity and inclusivity. We will work alongside allies to advocate for protections that prevent discrimination and address systemic inequities impacting youth, especially young people of color, LGBTQ+ youth, and young families.

The Next Few Months

Final Push with 118th Congress In the next two months, we will continue to work with Members of Congress and their staff. Of our five key policy priorities, two are key:

Preparing for the 119th Congress A new Congress will begin January 3, 2025, towards the end of President Biden’s tenure. If you haven’t already, find out who your Members in the 119th Congress will be.

It can be discouraging to find out your elected officials do not have the best interests of our young people in their policy priorities. But remember, Congress works for us! Now is the time to prepare to educate our elected officials next year on the prevalence of youth homelessness and what policies are needed to prevent and end it.

The National Network for Youth is dedicated to meeting with Members of Congress to pass policies. We strongly believe that anyone can be an advocate, and now is the time to learn about how policy works, get organized, and fight to end youth homelessness.

The journey ahead may be uncertain, but NN4Y’s commitment is unwavering. We stand ready to address any challenges, working alongside our partners to fulfill our vision of a world where all young people are housed, fed, safe, and valued.