The ROAD to Housing Act is Law: Let’s Make Sure Young People Aren’t Left Behind

The ROAD to Housing Act alone will not solve youth homelessness, but it addresses one of its systemic drivers: the severe shortage of affordable housing. For decades, communities across the country have struggled with affordable housing shortages. These shortages affect everyone, but are especially devastating for young people who typically earn less than older adults as they are just entering the workforce, pursuing education or training, or working low-wage jobs. Even full-time employment is often not enough to afford rent in today’s housing market. As a result, many young people spend more than they can afford on rent, remain doubled up with others or in other potentially dangerous situations, or cycle back into homelessness.

More affordable units can:

• Reduce competition for the limited number of affordable homes.
• Create sustainable pathways for young adults transitioning from homelessness.
• Increase housing stability for young parents and their children.
• Prevent young people from entering homelessness in the first place.

The ROAD to Housing Act does not include any affordable housing set-asides for young people experiencing homelessness. It is critical to ensure that young people are prioritized for housing opportunities because ending experiences of homelessness as early as possible—or preventing them altogether—is imperative to preventing homelessness from becoming chronic later on in a young person’s life. This is further underscored by the additional challenges young people often face to secure housing, including limited rental histories, lower incomes, no co-signers or family support, and an ongoing need for flexible supportive services while they establish independence.

One of the most important actions communities can take is to advocate for affordable housing units designated for young adults experiencing or exiting homelessness. Without intentional planning, newly-created affordable housing may remain out of reach for young people. Communities and youth homelessness providers should encourage developers and housing partners to consider:

• Dedicated units or preferences for young adults exiting homelessness.
• Partnerships with youth-serving providers to support successful tenancy and provide on-site or nearby supportive services.
• Flexible leasing practices that recognize the realities young adults face.

Providers that are successful in doing this prioritize building partnerships with their local affordable housing developers, housing authorities, government, and landlords.

NN4Y has long recognized that increasing affordable housing is only part of the solution. Last year, we published our policy brief, Transforming Affordable Housing Access for Young Adults. This brief outlines practical strategies for making affordable housing truly accessible for young people.

Recommendations included:

• Reducing access barriers.​​​​ Simplify eligibility requirements, reconsider screening policies that unnecessarily exclude young adults, and create pathways for youth with limited credit or rental histories.
• Strengthening partnerships.​​​ Housing providers, youth service organizations, developers, public housing agencies, landlords, and local governments should work together to create coordinated housing pathways rather than operating in silos.
• Prioritizing youth in housing planning.​​ Young adults experiencing homelessness should be intentionally included in affordable housing development, allocation policies, and community housing strategies.
• Pairing housing with supportive services.​ Achieving housing stability is most successful when combined with employment services, education, health care, transportation, and case management.
• Including youth voices. Young people with lived expertise should help shape housing policies and development decisions to ensure solutions reflect their real experiences and needs.

The passage of the ROAD to Housing Act creates new momentum around addressing the affordable housing shortage. Now, communities and youth homelessness providers have an opportunity to ensure that young people experiencing homelessness benefit from that progress.

Housing developers are beginning to plan the next generation of affordable housing projects. Youth-serving organizations should be at those tables now, building partnerships, advocating for young adult housing opportunities, and helping design communities where every young person has a safe, stable place to call home.

See these resources for more information about this new law.

• U.S. House of Representatives: Section-by-section of the law’s provisions.
• Bipartisan Policy Center: Section-by-section of the law’s provisions.
• Bipartisan Policy Center: Implementation tracker.
• National Low Income Housing Coalition: Impact on Low-Income Households fact sheet.
• National Association of Counties: Overview of the law.