Office of Homeless Youth Prevention and Protection Programs.
The Office of Homeless Youth Prevention and Protection Programs (OHY) was created in 2015 as an office within the Department of Commerce. The OHY is responsible for leading efforts to coordinate a spectrum of ongoing funding, policy, and practice efforts related to homeless youth and improving the safety, health, and welfare of homeless youth in the state.
The measurable goals of the OHY are to:
Some of the duties of the OHY include:
The OHY contracts with providers around the state operating or supporting:
The OHY must regularly consult with an advisory committee composed of advocates, legislators, parent advocates, youth representatives, law enforcement, service providers, and other stakeholders.
Publicly Funded System of Care.
In 2018 the Legislature expressed a goal that beginning January 1, 2021, any unaccompanied youth discharged from a publicly funded system of care would be discharged into safe and stable housing and required the OHY and the Department of Children, Youth, and Families to develop a plan supporting that goal. This report was completed in 2020 and is titled "Improving Stability for Youth Exiting Systems of Care."
The term "publicly funded system of care" is defined as the child welfare system, the behavioral health system, the juvenile justice system, and programs administered by the OHY.
Rapid Response Team.
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), in coordination with the Office of Homeless Youth Prevention and Protection Programs (OHY), must develop and implement a rapid response team that appropriately responds to support youth and young adults exiting a publicly funded system of care.
In developing the rapid response team, the DCYF and the OHY must develop and implement a system for:
The rapid response team can provide assistance and support to youth and young adults who are at risk of becoming homeless and who are exiting a publicly funded system of care with the goal of securing appropriate housing and other supports for the youth or young adult. If there is no housing identified for a youth or young adult upon exit, the rapid response team must meet before the youth or young adult transitions out of a publicly funded system of care.
Any of the following may refer a youth to the rapid response team:
The DCYF, in coordination with the OHY, is required to provide a report to the Legislature and the Governor, including data and recommendations related to the rapid response team.
Flexible Funding.
The OHY, in coordination with the DCYF, must administer flexible funding to support persons under age 25 exiting publicly funded systems of care that need discrete support or funding to secure safe housing. These flexible funds may be provided for immediate needs of the person, and that person can receive support more than once.
The flexible funding may be provided to:
Housing Stability for Youth in Crisis Programs.
The OHY must select, monitor, and provide funding and assistance for a minimum of six total counties that implement Housing Stability for Youth in Crisis Programs (HSYCP) for a period of three years. The HSYCP must include the following components:
The OHY must provide a report to the Legislature and the Governor by October 1, 2025, that includes an evaluation of the HSYCP, and recommendations for improving and expanding the programs.
System of Care Grants.
The OHY must provide system of care grants that prevent youth from exiting a publicly funded system of care into homelessness. These grants must provide support to youth exiting a publicly funded system of care and may include:
The substitute bill adds to the list of individuals who may refer a youth or young adult to the rapid response team to include an educator, a law enforcement officer, an employee of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) or the Office of Homeless Youth Prevention and Protection Programs (OHY), and a service provider contracting with or licensed by the DCYF.
The substitute bill requires the DCYF, in coordination with the OHY, to provide a report to the Legislature and the Governor including data and recommendations related to the rapid response team.
The substitute bill delays the effective date for the section involving the creation of rapid response teams to January 1, 2023.
(In support) The Legislature passed Senate Bill 6560 establishing a goal of not releasing youth into homelessness from a publicly funded system of care, but the Legislature has yet to increase services for this population. The services provided in this bill will prevent individuals from beginning lifelong homelessness.
This bill supports the goal that the state does not release youth and young adults into homelessness from publicly funded systems of care. Ensuring there is support of these youth and young people is the responsible thing to do.
The plan developed to support youth discharging from publicly funded systems of care has numerous recommendations that are included in this bill.
System of care grants create vital systems of communication between community supports. The community-based emphasis in these grants allow youth and young adults to thrive in their transition to adulthood. System of care grants currently help young people with costs needed to support housing.
Planning is also needed to support young people, and the rapid response teams will help ensure that this planning occurs.
This bill will create accessibility to financial resources that will allow young people to be successful.
Over many years, youth have been released from publicly funded systems of care directly into overnight shelters. When youth are released directly from jail into homelessness, this exacerbates feelings of hopelessness.
The interventions in this bill provide greater flexibility and help ensure that planning occurs before youth are released from publicly funded systems of care.
The lack of system coordination currently creates destabilization among youth. The silos need to be broken down to better serve youth. The rapid response team created in this bill is a step in this direction.
This bill will help people avoid homelessness and put the supports in place before leaving a publicly funded system of care.
There clearly needs to be a cross-system approach to youth and young people with complex needs. There needs to be a myriad of solutions available to meet the needs of young people.
This bill addresses a very serious problem. Systems of care have created homelessness especially among people of color and identifying as LGBTQ.
Entering inpatient treatment is a brave act, and this act should be supported following a youth's release. It is developmentally appropriate for young people to be involved in the decision-making process around their housing and services.
Allowing more opportunities for support, particularly housing support, can make a difference for someone's overall health and well-being.
(Opposed) None.
The second substitute bill changes the date by which the Department of Children, Youth, and Families and Office of Homeless Youth must begin providing annual reports on the rapid response team from November 1, 2022, to November 1, 2023. The second substitute bill also adds a null and void clause, making the bill null and void unless funded in the operating budget.
(In support) The state has previously made a commitment to prevent youth from exiting public systems of care into housing instability and homelessness. This bill represents an investment to match that commitment. It offers a comprehensive approach to a complex issue. It reflects the input and recommendations of many stakeholders. The structure of the programs acknowledges that different counties and youth need different services, and that data-driven approaches should be available on a statewide basis. BIPOC and LGBTQ youth are disproportionately likely to exit systems of care into housing instability. Many youth need services and financial assistance upon exiting public systems. Survey data has shown that young people ages 18 to 24 were disproportionately likely to report experiencing economic hardship and having mental health issues due to the pandemic. The fiscal impact is modest compared to the true costs of youth homelessness in terms of lives lost, trauma, inequitable outcomes, and costs to society. Private funders have shown a commitment to addressing this issue.
(Opposed) None.