Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Early Learning & Human Services Committee

HB 2610

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Summary of Bill

Directs the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) to conduct an analysis to identify characteristics of the homeless youth population ages birth to ten years of age.

Background:

The Legislature enacted Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1493 (E2SHB 1493) or the Hope Act, which required the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development and the Department of Social and Health Services to develop a collaborative approach to serving homeless families. Additionally, the Hope Act established two service programs, HOPE Centers and Responsible Living Skills Programs, for street youth who have who have no family support or for whom foster placements have not been successful.

The Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) conducted three evaluations of the Hope Act that examined characteristics of street youth, utilization of HOPE Centers and Responsible Living Skills Programs, and services provided to program participants. Since the completion of the aforementioned analyses, there has not been a robust study examining the characteristics of younger homeless children in Washington conducted by WSIPP.

Summary of Bill:

House Bill 2610 requires the WSIPP to conduct an analysis to identify characteristics of the homeless youth population from birth to age 10 years. To the extent possible, the evaluation is to capture the number of homeless youth in Washington from birth to 10 years of age and the average length of homelessness for this population. The report is due to the legislature by December 1, 2014.