Senators Schatz, Kaine, Collins, Murray Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Help Prevent Youth Homelessness & Keep Struggling Families Together

WASHINGTON, D.C. – November 19, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) introduced legislation to help prevent youth homelessness, improve support services and housing for youth and families, and help ensure children are raised in supportive, stable households.

Studies have shown that housing instability is linked to poor outcomes for children. Unsafe housing conditions and homelessness can threaten the safety of a child and can lead to an investigation by the local child welfare agency, out-of-home placement or a delay in family reunification. Homelessness may also lead families to voluntarily place their children in foster care while searching for housing, and families may be separated because of policies that exclude teenagers, especially boys, from shelters.

Senator Schatz’s office worked with the City and County of Honolulu to develop key provisions included in this bill. The Family Unification, Preservation and Modernization Act has also been endorsed by the National Center for Housing and Child Welfare, National Alliance to End Homelessness, Youth Villages, Boys Town, the Forum for Youth Investment, SparkAction, Covenant House International, the Child Welfare League of America, True Colors Fund, and First Focus Campaign for Children.

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