Begich Introduces Bill to Provide Aid to Thousands of Homeless Families

Press Release

U.S. Senator Mark Begich has introduced the Homeless Children and Youth Act, a bill to expand the definition of homelessness used by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, a change that would allow approximately 900,000 homeless children and families nationwide to access federal assistance programs.

The expanded HUD definition would match the definition used by other federal agencies including the Departments of Health and Human Services and Education.

"This is a much needed change that will help us combat homelessness in Alaska and across the nation," said Begich. "I have been advocating for this change for a long time. When I was Mayor of Anchorage I saw more and more families who do not have a safe place to live and this bipartisan bill will allow the most vulnerable members of our community -- those who are struggling to survive -- have access to important federal assistance programs. "

By expanding the definition of homelessness, the bill would make vulnerable children living in precarious situations eligible for federal homeless assistance programs. Specifically, children living in motels and doubled-up in households with acquaintances would be recognized as homeless. Children living in these situations are particularly vulnerable to predators, including traffickers, because they are hidden to social service providers and do not have case managers.

The bill was introduced on July 24 fellow sponsors Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Rob Portman (R-OH) and would also allow local communities to make decisions and set priorities according to their own needs. Currently, communities and nonprofits seeking to prioritize services for homeless children and families have been less competitive when applying for HUD funding.

The Homeless Children and Youth Act is supported by the Alaska Coalition on Housing and Homelessness, the Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness, the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth, National Network for Youth, First Focus Campaign for Children, National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty and the National Center on Housing and Child Welfare.

What Alaskans are saying about the bill:

Scott Ciambor, Chair, Alaska Coalition on Housing and Homelessness

"In Alaska, especially in rural communities that do not have shelters or other housing options for the homeless, getting a true picture of homelessness for families and children is difficult. The Alaska Coalition on Housing and Homelessness supports Senator Begich's efforts to align homeless definitions in order to truly understand homelessness in our communities and to help acquire the resources to end it."

Trevor J. Storrs, Board Member, Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness

"As coalitions across the nation, like the Anchorage Coalition to End Homelessness, strive to bring communities together to address the issue of homelessness, it is important that we work from one definition. The only way we can truly solve the issue of homelessness is by knowing the true numbers. In school year 2013/14 the Anchorage School District identified 1,219 families that met the U.S. Department of Education's definition of homelessness. Of those families 851 did not meet the definition of homelessness at the time. These individuals deserve to be counted and this bill sends a message that all who experience homelessness are equally important."

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