Senator Wiener Introduces Legislation to Fund Housing for Homeless and At-Risk Youth

January 21, 2021

SACRAMENTO – Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) introduced SB 234, the SUPPORT Act (Supporting Underserved Young People for Positive Resets and Transitions). SB 234 creates a $100 million forgivable loan program to fund new housing, or acquire existing housing, for transition age youth between ages 16 and 26. The housing will be targeted toward young people who are homeless, in or exiting foster care, or exiting the criminal justice system. SB 234 is co-sponsored by the Alliance for Children’s Rights, California Coalition for Youth, Children Now, and GRACE/End Child Poverty in California.

Transition age youth face extremely high rates of housing instability and homelessness, which makes it difficult to pursue education or employment opportunities and therefore the chance to become self-sufficient. Foster youth and justice-involved youth are particularly at risk for homelessness. Though California funds extended foster care programs for those aged 18-21, there is a dearth of proper funding for supportive housing reserved for young people transitioning to adulthood. 

The legislation will help remove financial barriers to construction and acquisition for many affordable housing developers. Housing projects eligible for this funding will address both our long-term housing crisis and our more pressing housing needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic for vulnerable transition age youth. Fifty percent of the funds will be earmarked for projects that serve extended foster care youth age 18-21.

“California is simultaneously facing a pandemic, an economic crisis, and a housing crisis, and transition age youth are struggling with the effects of all three,” Senator Wiener said. “SB 234 rightfully prioritizes the issue of chronic youth homelessness and will give kids the footing they need to transition into an independent and successful adult life.”

"Senator Wiener continues to be a champion for youth experiencing homelessness in San Francisco, and throughout the state,” said Sherilyn Adams, Executive Director of Larkin Street Youth Services. “Despite representing almost 20 percent of people experiencing homelessness, dedicated funding for youth homelessness is less than 10 percent of San Francisco's Homelessness and Supportive Housing budget. Dedicated resources for youth should be a cornerstone of our efforts to combat this crisis, and funding for capital development activities could not have come at a better time for young people in our City."

“Far too many young people currently and formerly in foster care experience housing instability and homelessness,” said Susanna Kniffen, Senior Director of Child Welfare at Children Now. “This leads to further trauma, negatively impacts their well-being and impedes their transition into adulthood. The COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis have exacerbated the situation. In fact, in a recent study of the experiences of 18-23-year-old youth in foster care and aged out of foster care, almost half of respondents reported COVID-19 having a negative impact on their living situation.”

We are excited to co-sponsor this bill which represents a critical step forward to ensuring that current and former foster youth, youth experiencing homelessness and youth involved with probation can access the safe housing they need to stabilize and successfully transition into adulthood.”

“Senator Wiener’s proposal will break the cycle of homelessness for many young people by incentivizing the development of stable and supportive housing for our youth,” said Kristin Power, Government Relations Director for the Alliance for Children’s Rights. “Most homeless youth come from homes characterized by high levels of physical, sexual and/or emotional abuse and neglect. This bold proposal acknowledges these youth need a safe place to heal and grow and supports our transition age youth in achieving independence.”

“Supporting our most underserved young people is the key to the brightest of futures for California,” said Jevon Wilkes, Executive Director of California Coalition for Youth. “As a champion for youth experiencing homelessness, Senator Scott Wiener's exemplary pursuit, through SB 234, is part of the solution to ending youth homelessness, and in turn, combating adult and chronic homelessness.“

“The pandemic has made the crisis of housing and homelessness much worse for many who were living at the margins,” said Conway Collis, President and CEO of GRACE/End Child Poverty CA.“This has become an even greater crisis for far too many transition aged youth, who have been pushed further into poverty. SB 234 will address the long term infrastructure challenges of permanent supportive housing for our most vulnerable youth.”