Contacting Congress is Easier than Ever

You are powerful — your lived expertise can and should help shape the policies created.

As a constituent of two U.S. Senators and one U.S. Representative, you can effect change by contacting your elected officials and advocating for our collective policy agenda to prevent and end youth homelessness. Engaged and active constituents are critical to educating and persuading policymakers because national organizations have a limited reach. Constituent young leaders, service providers, community partners, and passionate individuals can shape policies by influencing policymakers on the importance of our collective policy positions.

Please join us in taking action by visiting each of our policy priorities and filling out a simple take action form to email your representatives, making sure they know that constituents are asking them to cosponsor this important legislation. To learn how to contact your representatives directly, take a look at our advocacy resources.

S.2012 / H.R.2856

RHYTPA reauthorizes and updates the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, which funds community-based providers that serve youth, young adults, and young parents experiencing homelessness.

U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-1), Don Bacon (R-NE-2), Zachary Nunn (R-IA-3), and Morgan McGarvey (D-KY-3) and U.S. Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced RHYTPA on October 25, 2023.

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S.1667 / H.R.6403

HCYA aligns the definition of homelessness across federal agencies and programs so that all children, youth, young adults, and young parents experiencing homelessness can be eligible for the assistance they need. It also increases the visibility and awareness of children, youth, young adults, and young parents experiencing homelessness through better data transparency and more accurate counts.

Senators Katie Britt (R-AL) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) introduced HCYA in the Senate on May 7, 2025. Representatives Mike Lawler (R-NY-17) and Janelle Bynum (D-OR-05) introduced HCYA in the House on December 3, 2025.

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NN4Y’s top-priority FY26 appropriations requests are:

  • $304 million for the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act program administered by HHS.
  • $200 million for the Education for the Homeless Children and Youth program administered by ED
  • $100 million for the Youth Homeless Demonstration Program administered by HUD, plus report language requests
  • $25 million for the Youth Homelessness System Improvement grants administered by HUD

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H.R.7278 in the 118th Congress.

HHSA is a bipartisan, no-cost fix that would allow full-time college students experiencing homelessness to access housing funded by the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, something they are currently excluded from doing.

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Our policy priorities and agenda are driven by our National Youth Advisory Council comprised of young leaders from across the country who have experienced multiple forms of homelessness, and our 300+ community-based youth service provider members and affiliate network.