SB 105-13: Hubert H. Humphrey Helping Hand to the Homeless Act (Redraft Passed)

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Aye

[WD]

Aye

[If my soul was made of stone]

AYE

[Former President tack50]

Aye

[Crane]

Aye

[Continential]

Aye

[Joseph Cao]

Aye.

[Saint Milei]

Nay

[Kuumo]

Aye

[OBD]

Aye

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Please close the vote.

[Joseph Cao]

By a vote of 9-1-0-8, the redraft passes and is sent to the President for his signature.

[Joseph Cao]

Hubert H. Humphrey Helping Hand to the Homeless Act

An act in the CONGRESS of the REPUBLIC of ATLASIA

Section 1. Purpose and Background

a. WHEREAS, Runaway and homeless youth flee conflict, abuse, neglect, or, increasingly, poverty in their homes. They have become disconnected from educational systems and the workforce and do not have the skills and financial resources to live on their own. The factors impacting youth homelessness are complex and differ from those impacting other homeless populations;

b. WHEREAS, Runaway and homeless youth who live on the street are victims of physical abuse, sexual exploitation, human trafficking, and crime in untold numbers. An estimated 300,000 youth are either victims or at risk of becoming victims of commercial and sexual exploitation each year, of which 60 percent of these victimized children are homeless; and

c. WHEREAS, Homeless youth tend to have started using drugs at a younger age, often before 15 years of age. Early drug use and abuse are predictive of serious adult addiction problems and long-term homelessness;

d. WHEREAS, Youth who "age out" of the foster care system are at an increased risk of homelessness, and represent an estimated 20 percent of the 20,000 youth who leave foster care and are currently homeless; and

e. WHEREAS, These youth are on the street because they feel there are no other options open to them; and

f. WHEREAS, Providing safe, stable, and permanent housing for runaway and homeless youth is a family, community, state, and national priority, and homeless youth are considered one of the unique populations in the homeless community.

e. WHEREAS, The future well-being of our state depends on the value we place on our youth and, in particular, on our actions to provide the most vulnerable young people in the state with opportunities to acquire the knowledge, skills, and abilities they need to find and maintain stable housing and to develop into healthy and productive adults;

f. WHEREAS, The COVID-19 pandemic is being felt by youth through high unemployment rates and increased demand for youth-centered care and mental health services, technology, and access to hygiene, food, shelter, and safety;

g. WHEREAS, The number of effective programs providing services and support to runaway and homeless youth must be increased

Section 2. Program establishment

a. The Congress of the Republic of Atlasia allocates $50,000,000 to the Department of Housing and Urban Development for the purpose of establishing a grant program.

b. Beneficiaries must be nonprofit organizations dedicated to assisting homeless citizens.

c. Grants shall be no less than $25,000 and no more than $100,000 per year.

d. Grants must be approved upon review of applying registered nongovernmental organizations and community centers dedicated to improving poverty-stricken communities.

Passed 10-5-2-1 in the Atlasian Senate assembled,

Ishan, President pro tempore

Proposed redraft

Scott, President of the Republic of Atlasia

Passed 9-1-0-8 in the Atlasian Senate assembled,


Joseph Cao, president pro tempore