Warning: Uninitialized string offset 19 in /home/nnyoutho/public_html/wp-content/plugins/fusion-builder/shortcodes/fusion-table.php on line 119
Warning: Uninitialized string offset 19 in /home/nnyoutho/public_html/wp-content/plugins/fusion-builder/shortcodes/fusion-table.php on line 119
On March 11, the House passed a bill to fund the government until September 30, 2025, the end of Fiscal Year (FY) 2025. The bill now heads to the Senate, where it must pass before it can be signed into law. The deadline to pass a spending bill is Friday, March 14th.
The bill changes many of the funding levels from FY2024, including:
- An additional $6 billion for defense programs.
- An additional $485 million for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to carry out deportations.
- An additional $500 million for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.
- An overall $13 billion cut to non-defense programs, which includes eliminating all FY25 earmark funding.
Republicans are referring to this funding bill as a continuing resolution (CR). However, a CR is a temporary funding measure that does not change funding levels from the previous fiscal year. This bill makes significant changes to funding levels, so it is not entirely accurate to refer to it as a “continuing resolution.”
The Bill’s Effect on Youth Homelessness Programs
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
HHS’ Administration for Children and Families, Children and Families Services Programs received an overall cut of $40,011,000. These cuts may be directed to mandatory funding programs. Programs under the Children and Families Services Programs bucket include:
| Program | FY2024 Funding Level |
|---|---|
| Head Start | $11,996,820,000 |
| Preschool Development Grants | $315,000,000 |
| Runaway and Homeless Youth Programs | $146,283,000 |
| CAPTA State Grants | $105,091,000 |
| Child Welfare Services | $268,735,000 |
| Community Services Block Grant | $770,000,000 |
| Family Violence Prevention and Services | $240,000,000 |
| Chafee Education and Training Vouchers | $44,257,000 |
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
The Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) and the Youth Homelessness System Improvement (YHSI) grants are under HUD’s Homeless Assistance Grants (HAG) funding stream. While HAG did not receive any cuts, the bill does dictate that the $100,000,000 currently allocated for one-time awards to construct, acquire, or rehabilitate new permanent supportive housing can be reallocated to the general continuum of care (CoC) fund.
In addition to this, HUD’s Tenant-Based Rental Assistance program received a $3.65 billion increase in funding. HUD’s Project-Based Rental Assistance program received a $480 million increase.
For now, it seems as though YHDP and YHSI will be funded at the same levels as FY2024 for the remainder of FY2025 (see below). However, due to rapid changes within the Administration, you should continue to expect delays and changes to current contracts and new Notice of Funding Opportunities.
| Program | FY2024 Funding Level |
|---|---|
| Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program | $82,000,000 of which up to $10,000,000 can be used for technical assistance. |
| Youth Homelessness System Improvement Grants | $25,000,000 |
| Emergency Solutions Grants | $290,000,000 |
| Continuum of Care | $3,544,000,000 |
Stay Engaged
A final spending bill must be passed by March 14, or the government will shut down. The bill now heads to the Senate, which needs 60 votes to pass this legislation. If it passes the Senate, the President will sign it into law. Things are shifting rapidly, and we will continue to provide updates about the implications for youth homelessness providers.
If you would like to advocate for the programs that prevent and end child, youth, and family homelessness, please reach out to trinady.maddock@nn4youth.org. We want to hear about ANY negative experiences you have had as a result of this administration and Congress, including proposed legislation, Executive Orders, funding freezes, or any other harmful actions.
We cannot stress how important this information is to our collective advocacy work. When we meet with Congressional offices, they want to know what is happening in states and in communities, and how people have been affected. Nothing is too small to share!
