Bipartisan Legislation Aims to Increase College Campus Housing Affordability for Vulnerable Students

Strategic Insights -

Representatives Joyce Beatty, Greg Landsman, Mike Lawler, Don Bacon, and Zach Nunn reintroduced the Campus Housing Affordability for Foster Youth Act, a bipartisan legislation aimed at supporting vulnerable students in paying for college campus housing. The bill would allow eligible students in or formerly in foster care, as well as emancipated youth, to use the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Housing Choice Voucher Program, known as Section 8 vouchers, to pay for college campus housing.

The legislation has been endorsed by the National Center for Housing and Child Welfare, National Foster Youth Institute, and the Foster Care Alumni of America. Key supporters of the bill highlight the importance of stable campus housing in helping vulnerable students overcome significant barriers to achieving higher education and economic success.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Campus Housing Affordability for Foster Youth Act aims to increase college campus housing affordability for vulnerable students by allowing them to use HUD's Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8 vouchers) to pay for housing.
  • Eligible students include those in or formerly in foster care, as well as emancipated youth.
  • The bill has been endorsed by the National Center for Housing and Child Welfare, National Foster Youth Institute, and the Foster Care Alumni of America.
  • Supporters of the bill highlight the importance of stable campus housing in helping vulnerable students overcome significant barriers to achieving higher education and economic success.
  • The legislation would remove restrictions on college students receiving housing assistance, allowing foster youth to complete college without facing financial burdens related to housing.
  • The bill has been reintroduced by Representatives Joyce Beatty, Greg Landsman, Mike Lawler, Don Bacon, and Zach Nunn.

Statistics:

  • 1.4 million foster care youth in the United States (Source: National Center for Foster Youth Innovation)
  • 540,000 youth in the United States experience homelessness during the school year. (Source: National Center for Homeless Education)
  • 25% of foster youth in college report homelessness (Source: National Foster Youth Institute)

Sources:

  • National Center for Housing and Child Welfare
  • National Foster Youth Institute
  • Foster Care Alumni of America
  • United States House of Representatives