The National Network for Youth supports this legislation because it would fix the student rule issue. Youth who have experienced homelessness and survivors of trafficking should be able to access Housing Credit-funded housing and pursue their education full time.
Suppose a young person or trafficking survivor lives in housing funded by the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC). In that case, they are prohibited from being full-time students. There is a simple policy fix to this significant barrier to ending youth homelessness and caring for survivors in the Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act (AHCIA) of 2021, S.1136/H.R.2573. Unfortunately, this part of AHCIA was not included in the recently released House Budget Reconciliation bill.
Right now, we need Oregon-based youth service providers to contact Senator Wyden’s office. Tell them that including the student rule fix from AHCIA in budget reconciliation will enable us to change the trajectory of many young people’s lives across the state of Oregon and the nation.
