SB 5935 — Office of homeless youth

Summary

Updating the office of homeless youth program provisions.

Bill Text

Compared against the Revised Code of Washington as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends 11 section(s) of the Revised Code of Washington: RCW 43.185C.010; RCW 43.185C.280; RCW 43.185C.285; RCW 43.185C.315; RCW 43.185C.320; RCW 43.185C.340.

• RCW 43.185C.010

  street A street street A street street street unaccompanied → (7) Home security fund account" means the state treasury account receivin income from revenue under RCW 36.22.250(2)(c), and all other s urces directed to the homeless housing and assistance program. (8) Homeless housing grant program" means the vehicle by which competit ve grants are awarded by the department, utilizing moneys from th home security fund account, to local governments for programs directly related to housing homeless individuals and families addressing the root causes of homelessness, preventing homeless ess, collecting data on homeless individuals, and other efforts irectly related to housing homeless persons. (9) Homeless housing plan" means the five-year plan developed by the coun y or other local government to address housing for homeless persons. (10) "Homeless housing program" means the program authorized under th s chapter as administered by the department at the state level an by the local government or its designated subcontractor at the loca level. (11) "Homeless housing strategic plan" means the five-year plan develope by the department, in consultation with the interagency council n homelessness, the affordable housing advisory board, and the stat advisory council on homelessness. (12) "Homeless person" means an individual living outside or in a building not meant for human habitation or which they have no legal right to occupy, in an emergency shelter, or in a temporary housing program hich may include a transitional and supportive housing program f habitation time limits exist. This definition includes substanc abusers, people with mental illness, and sex offenders who are home ess. (13) "HOPE center" means an agency licensed by the secretary of the depa tment of children, youth, and families to provide temporary resident al placement and other services to unaccompanied homeless youth. An unaccompanied homeless youth may remain i a HOPE center for 90 day vices arranged and permanen placement is coordinat unaccompanied homeless youth may stay longer tha e depart t and any additional days e based the unavailability of a An unaccompanied homeless parent arranges return unaccompanied homeless ere w not run away. Pursu established cility ministrator, the faci ator shall e asonab hours for residents to rom the facil at no idents are free to come hours of the ght. prevent residents from sonable acti cility ministrator, where appr ondition a re aving facility upon the accompanied minist or or the administrator d the residen quired notify the administra inistrator's any ent to leave, his or destination, obable me of his or her return . (23) Staff secure facility tructured gro cility censed under rules ado partment of c uth, a families with a ratio ne adult staf every o children. (24) treet outreach servic rogram that rvices nd resources either through refe unaccompanied homeless

  amended

• RCW 43.185C.280

  (b) Upon admitting a c who has run away from home or has requested admittance to the r; (c) Upon learning from rson under RCW 13.32A.082 that the person is providing shelter child absent from home; or (d) Upon learning that a d has been placed with a responsible adult pursuant to RCW 43.185 . (2) Transportation expen f the child shall be at the parent's expense to the extent of hi her ability to pay, with any unmet transportation expenses assu y the crisis residential center. (3) When any of the ci tances under subsection (1) of this section are present, the ad rator of a center shall perform the following duties: (a) Immediately notify child's parent of the child's whereabouts, physical and e nal condition, and the circumstances surrounding his or her plac , unless a compelling reason exists as defined in RCW 13.32A.082

  amended

• RCW 43.185C.285

  read as follows: The administrator of a crisis residential center shall notify parents unless a compelling reason exists as defined in RCW 13.32A.082, and the appropriate law nt ag y as to any unauthorized leave from the center by placed the center. The administrator shall also notify artmen of children, youth, and families immediately as to horize eave from the center by a child who is in the care eceivin services from the department of children, youth, and

  amended

• RCW 43.185C.315

  street street street street street fifteen street street street street seventy-two street street street street street street street seventeen seventeen seventeen seventy- five → 3 are ch amended to read as follows: (1) The department shall establis ters oss the state and may establish HOPE centers by cont hin fu appropriated by the legislature specifically for t e. HO centers shall be operated in a manner to reaso sure t unaccompanied homeless youth placed th not ru way. Pursuant to rules established by the facilit trator esidents may come and go from the facility at hour such that no residents are free to come and go at of th ay and night. The facility administrator, where te, m condition a resident's leaving the facility upon ent b g accompanied by the administrator or the administra ignee the resident may be required to notify the admini r the ministrator's designee of any intent to leave, his o ended tination, and the probable time of his or her re the H center. Any unaccompanied homeless you uns aw from a HOPE center shall not be readmitted unless lly a orized by the unaccompanied homeless y laceme and liaison specialist, an the placement and lia ialist hall document with specific actual findings an app basis r readmitting any unaccompanied homeless a HO center. HOPE centers a eq (a) A ce child , youth, and families, lu lifica ns; (b) as ctual a part-time employee, t unaccompanied homeless th 15 shall be known as a cement and liaison specialist. Preference shall be given to tho case managers who have experience working with adolescents and cross-credentialed in mental health and chemical dependency. Th lacement and liaison specialist shall: (i) Conduct an essment of the unaccompanied homeless youth that ludes a determination of the unaccompanied homeless outh's legal status regarding residential placement; (ii) Facilitate th unaccompanied homeless youth's return to his or her ally authorized residence at the earliest possible date or init e processes to arrange legally authorized appropriate placement. y unaccompanied homeless youth who may meet the defin ion of pendent child under RCW 13.34.030 must be referred to the epartm of children, youth, and families. The department of chi ren, y h, and families shall determine whether a dependency p ition uld be filed under chapter 13.34 ing mu be held within 72 hours to authorize out- home p ement for any youth t partme of children, youth, an amilie determines is appropri for ou of-home placement under hapter .34 RCW. All of the sions chapter 13.32A RCW must e foll d for children in nee servic or at-risk youth; (iii) Interface h oth relevant resources syst representatives to sec long- m residential placeme nd oth needed services for the unaccompanied homeless h; (iv) Be assigned i ith t youth within eight hour rvices (v) Facilitate a unaccompanied homeless thin o year prior to residence ation a county-designated men penden specialist, or both if (vi) Arrange an edu unaccompanied homeless writin and basic mathematics, ities special needs; (c) Staff train unaccompanied homeless with the placement and liaison sp cialist to provide a ropria e services on-site; (d) A data collection system hat measures outcomes for t e population served, and enables rese rch and evaluation th can e used for future program development and service deliv y. Da a collection systems must have conf dentiality rules and rotoco s developed by the department; (e) Notification requirements that meet the no ficati n requirements of chapter 13.32A RCW. he youth's arrival dat and ti e must be logged at intake by HOPE center staff. The s ff mu t immediately notify law enforcement and dependency caseworke s if ( )) an unaccompanied homeless youth runs away fro a HO E center. A child may be transferred a secure facility as fined n reasonably believes hat ( )) an unaccompanied homeless uth is likely to leav the HO center and not return after full nsideration of the fa tors s forth in RCW 43.185C.290(2)(a) i) and (ii). The unaccompanied homeless youth's tem ary placement in the H st be horized by the court or e secretary of the dep ildren youth, and families if e youth is a depende ate un cha

  amended

• RCW 43.185C.320

  a street , as that term is defined in this chapter, → each amended to read as follows: To be eligible for placement in a HOPE c minor must be either an unaccompanied homeless

  amended

• RCW 43.185C.340

  without a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence in accordance with the federal McKinney-Vento homeless assistance act, 42 U.S.C. Sec. 11431 through 11435 → (5) In determining which eligible organizations will receive grants, the department must ensure that selected grantees reflect geographic diversity across the state. Greater weight shall be given to eligible organizations that demonstrate a commitment to: (a) Partnering with local schools or school districts as demonstrated by a letter of support; and (b) Developing and implementing evidence-informed strategies to address racial inequities. Specific strategies may include, but are not limited to: (i) Hiring direct service staff who reflect the racial, cultural, and language demographics of the population being served; (ii) Committing to inclusive programming by intentionally seeking and utilizing input from the population being served; (iii) Ensuring eligibility criteria does not unintentionally screen out people of color and further racial inequity; and (iv) Creating access points in locations frequented by parents, guardians, and unaccompanied homeless youth of color. (6) Activities eligible for assistance under this grant program include but are not limited to: (a) Rental assistance, which includes utilities, security and utility deposits, first and last month's rent, rental application fees, moving expenses, and other eligible expenses to be determined by the department; (b) Transportation assistance, including gasoline assistance for students and families with vehicles and bus passes; (c) Emergency shelter; (d) Housing stability case management; and (e) Other collaborative housing strategies, including prevention and strength-based safety and housing approaches. (7)(a) All beneficiaries of funds from the grant program must be from households that include at least one student experiencing homelessness as defined as a child or youth ⟦INS⟧who is homeless as defined in RCW 43.330.702

  amended

• RCW 43.330.702

  eighteen "Street youth" means a person under the age of eighteen who lives outdoors or in another unsafe location not intended for occupancy by the minor and who is not residing with his or her parent or at his or her legally authorized residence. (5) (6) eighteen twenty-four → read as follows: The definitions in this section apply throughout this subchapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Child," "juvenile," "youth," and "minor" means any unemancipated individual who is under the chronological age of 18 years. A homeless young adult under age 21 residing in a transitional living program for unaccompanied homeless youth at the time the young adult reaches the age of 18 may be considered a child for the purposes of continued placement in licensed group care facilities under chapter 74.15 RCW. A young adult who is not dependent under chapter 13.34 RCW is not considered a "child" under any other section or for any other purpose. (2) "Homeless" means without a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence as set forth in the federal McKinney-Vento homeless assistance act, P.L. 100–77, July 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 482, and runaway and homeless youth act, P.L. 93–415, Title III, September 7, 1974, 88 Stat. 1129. (3) "Runaway" means an unmarried and unemancipated minor who is absent from the home of a parent or guardian or other lawful placement without the consent of the parent, guardian, or lawful custodian. (4) "Unaccompanied" means a youth or young adult experiencing homelessness while not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian. (5) "Young adult" means a person between 18 and 24 years of age. An emancipated minor may be considered a young adult for the purposes of eligibility for programs administered by the office of homeless youth.

  amended

• RCW 43.330.710

  (b)(i) The office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs may distribute grants to providers who serve homeless youth and young adults throughout the state. (ii) The grants must fund services in the five key components in (iii) The grants must be expended on a statewide basis and may be used to support direct services, as well as technical assistance, evaluation, and capacity building. (iv) Grant funds used to provide flexible financial assistance may be provided directly to eligible youth and young adults or a third-party vendor such as a landlord in order to promote the housing stability of the program participant. (2) The office of homeless youth ntion prot ograms shall provide management and rsight uidanc rection to the following programs: (a) HOPE centers as described in RCW 43 .315; (b) Crisis residential centers as descr in RCW .185C. (c) Street outreach services as defined CW 43. C.010; (d) Independent youth housing progr as de bed i .63A.305.

  amended

• RCW 43.330.724

  for a minimum of six total crisis for a period of three years crisis crisis crisis crisis (4) This section expires July 1, 2026. → 4 are h amen ad as follows: (1) Subject to the amounts approp d for is sp rpose, the office of homeless youth ntion d prot ograms shall select, monitor, and prov unding d assi hat im ment h youth in courts rams descri courts stability assessments with youth and caregivers, connects youth and caregivers with relevant community providers based on assessments, and follows up on referrals; (d) A model of homelessness prevention services that provides the appropriate amount of intervention based on the youth or family needs; and (e) Coordinated housing services for youth experiencing homelessness. (3) By October 1, 2025, and in compliance with RCW 43.01.036, the office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs shall submit a report to the relevant committees of the legislature and the governor that includes: (a) An evaluation of the housing stability for youth in courts programs that includes outcome data for participants; (b) Recommendations for improving the housing stability for youth in courts programs; and (c) Recommendation for expanding the housing stability for youth in courts programs.

  amended

• RCW 43.330.726

  (a) (b) The community support team may not engage with a family member other than the youth if the parent, guardian, or legal custodian objects to the support or assistance that is offered or provided. licensed enters licensed → read as follows: (1) Subject to the amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs shall provide additional funding and assistance to contracted youth service providers or other entities who convene a community support team as described in this section. The purpose of the community support team is to help identify supports for a youth focused on resolving family conflict and obtaining or maintaining long-term and stable housing. The community support team is required to prioritize reunification between the youth and the youth's family to the extent possible without endangering the health, safety, or welfare of the child. (2) A community support team under this section must include: (a) The youth; and p. 15 SB 5935 (b) Supportive adults i⟦INS⟧dentified by the youth, which aff; the youth's school; ff; y; providers; providers; ; or members. ort team described in this s ows youth who enter a licens organization wi s to less or runaway you nce fr he community support seeks services from

  amended

• RCW 43.63A.305

  eighteenth fifteen eighteenth (i) Administrative costs for each subcontractor organization may not exceed twelve percent of the estimated total annual grant amount to the subcontractor organization; (ii) All housing stipends, security deposits, and first and last month's rent stipends must be payable only to a landlord or housing manager of any type of independent housing; [Washington] → (a) Adopt polici re irements, and procedures ssary to administer the progra (b) Contract with ne o more eligible organizatio described under RCW 43.185A.040 pro ide services and conduct ad istrative activities as describ in s section (3) of this section (c) Establish eli ilit criteria for youth to pa cipate in the independent youth usin program, giving priority youth who have been dependents the ate for at least one year; (d) Refer inter ed uth to the designated s ontractor organization administ ng t program in the area in whi the youth intends to reside; (e) Develop a me d fo determining the amount of e housing stipend, first and l mo h's rent, and security de t, where applicable, to be de ated to participating youth. Th ethod for determining a housing ipen must take into account a th's age, the youth's total inc fr all sources, the fair mar rent for the area in which the outh ives or intends to live, a a variety of possible living s atio for the youth. The amoun f housing stipends must be adju d, b a method and formula establ ed by the department, to prom th successful transition fo youth to complete housing self ffic ncy over time; (f) Ensure that he ndependent youth housing ogram is integrated and aligne with other state rental assista and case management programs rate by the department, as w as case management and sup tive services programs, inc ing the independent living p ram, the transitional living ram, and other related program ffer by the department of socia nd health services; and (g) Consult with dep tment of social and health vices and other stakeholders in ved th dependent youth, homeles outh, and homeless young adults s ap opriate. (2) The departmen of ( children, youth, and families hall g and op ing but not li ed t fer potent elig 18th (b) Provide information to all youth aged 15 or older, who are dependents of the state under chapter 13.34 RCW, about the independent youth housing program, encouraging dependents nearing their 18th birthday to consider applying for enrollment in the program; (c) Encourage organizations participating in the independent living program and the transitional living program to collaborate with independent youth housing program providers whenever possible to capitalize on resources and provide the greatest amount and variety of services to eligible youth; (d) Annually provide to the department data reflecting changes in the percentage of youth aging out of the state dependency system each year who are eligible for state assistance, as well as any other data and performance measures that may assist the department to measure program success; and (e) Annually, beginning by December 31, 2007, provide to the appropriate committees of the legislature and the interagency council on homelessness as described under RCW 43.185C.170 recommendations of strategies to reach the goals described in RCW 43.63A.311(2)(g). (3) Under the independent youth housing program, subcontractor organizations shall: (a) Use moneys awarded to the organizations for housing stipends, security deposits, first and last month's rent stipends, case management program costs, costs associated with providing transitional housing, and administrative costs. When subcontractor organizations determine that it is necessary to assist participating youth in accessing and maintaining independent housing, subcontractor organizations may also use moneys awarded to pay for professional mental health services and tuition costs for court-ordered classes and programs; (b) Enroll eligible youth who are referred by the department and who choose to reside in their assigned service area; p. 18 SB 5935 ⟦INS⟧(c) Ente eligible a Washington m e e s n h e e c l d o W e e a

  amended

Action History

1. January 12, 2026

   First reading, referred to Human Services.

Sponsors

• (Orwall) · Primary

Subjects