The Emergency Family Stabilization Act, S. 3923, was introduced on Tuesday, June 9, 2020 by Senator Murkowski (R-AK), Senator Manchin (D-WV), and Senator Sinema (D-AZ). Even before the pandemic struck, child, youth, and family homelessness was prevalent across the country. We are grateful to these U.S. Senators for taking steps to fill the gaps with this new, much-needed Emergency Family Stabilization Fund (EFSA).
The National Network for Youth applauds the creation of this crucial emergency program as many children, youth and families who were already experiencing extreme difficulties and traumas of homelessness prior to the pandemic are at greater risk of coronavirus infection and transmission. While their vulnerabilities expose them to predation, violence, and human trafficking, EFSA would help to develop and restore their physical, psychological, social, emotional, and economic well-being through connections to impactful programs and services with local partners.
About the Bipartisan Emergency Family Stabilization Act
- Creates a new emergency funding stream through the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to provide flexible funding for community-based organizations to meet the unique needs of children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness (as defined by the education subtitle of the McKinney-Vento Act) in the wake of the coronavirus.
- Local agencies that currently receive ACF grants or have experience in serving children, families, and unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness would be eligible to receive funds, including community-based, faith-based, tribal, and culturally-specific organizations and local educational agencies.
- Special consideration is given to pregnant women, pregnant and parenting youth, children under age 6, children with disabilities, families experiencing domestic violence, survivors of sexual assault or human trafficking, historically marginalized and underserved communities of color, and families and youth in rural areas.
- Funds may be used for a wide range of housing, health, education, employment, training, and safety-related activities.
EFSA Fact Sheet
EFSA Section by Section
EFSA Bill Text
Endorsing Organizations
What You Can Do
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. Senators to join as cosponsors of the Emergency Family Stabilization Act. 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.
2. Endorse the legislation (local, state, or national organizations) by completing this sign-on form.
Share on Social Media
Thank you @lisamurkowski @sen_joemanchin and @SenatorSinema 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
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
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
National Endorsing Organizations
- Alliance for Excellent Education
- Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking – ATEST
- American Academy of Pediatrics
- American Dance Therapy Association
- American Federation of School Administrators
- American School Counselor Association
- Changing the Narratives
- Children’s Advocacy Institute
- Child Welfare League of America
- Coalition for Juvenile Justice
- Council of Administrators of Special Education
- Covenant House International
- Educare Learning Network
- Family Promise
- First Focus Campaign for Children
- Forum for Youth Investment
- Foster Club
- Futures Without Violence
- Justice for Families
- National Alliance to End Homelessness
- National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth
- National Association of Counsel for Children
- National Association of Elementary School Principals
- National Association of School Psychologists
- National Association of Social Workers
- National Association of Secondary School Principals
- National Coalition for the Homeless
- National Congress of American Indians
- National Council of Urban Indian Health
- National Center for Housing & Child Welfare
- National Crittenton
- National Indian Child Welfare Association
- National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center
- National Network for Youth
- National Prevention Science Coalition to Improve Lives
- National Safe Place Network
- Parents as Teachers
- Polaris
- Rights4Girls
- SchoolHouse Connection
- School Social Work Association of America
- SparkAction
- StandUp for Kids
- Strategies for Youth
- The Ounce of Prevention Fund
- Vital Voices
- YouthBuild USA
- Youth Advocate Programs, Inc.
- YWCA USA