In a bipartisan 68-28 vote, the House of Representatives approved legislation by Representative Jake Fey (D-Tacoma) to help equip schools and communities with the tools they need to combat youth homelessness.
“There are more than 35,000 students in Washington that do not have a safe or reliable place to sleep at night. Our kids deserve better,” said Fey.
The bill was inspired by an innovative partnership between the Tacoma Housing Authority and McCarver Elementary. Together the organizations have developed several programs to improve the educational outcomes of its students who lack a permanent home, including long-term housing placement and rental assistance.
HB 1682 would mirror the success of those local programs by establishing two state grant programs. The first would fund organizations and programs that connect homeless students to stable housing, while the second would help schools provide additional counselors to better support homeless students in the classroom.
“McCarver has shown that we can build a brighter future for every student in Washington,” said Fey. “I urge the Senate to move swiftly to pass this legislation and provide our schools with the resources they need to make sure every student succeeds.”