Lilly Youth Homelessness Prevention Measure Passes House

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.  – A measure sponsored by state Rep. Camille Y. Lilly, D-Chicago, to help prevent homelessness among youth recently passed the Illinois House.

“Far too many children and young people in Illinois experience homelessness and children and youth of color are disproportionately impacted by homelessness,” said Lilly. “We must ensure that Illinois is doing everything it can to eliminate child and youth homelessness.”

Lilly co-sponsored House Bill 2983, which passed the Illinois House, a measure to create a Youth Homelessness Prevention Subcommittee in the Governor’s Cabinet on Children and Youth, which coordinates efforts to make sure Illinois children and youth are healthy, safe and well-educated. The Youth Homelessness Prevention Subcommittee will include representatives from several state agencies including the Department of Children and Family Services, Department of Healthcare and Family Services and the Department of Human Services, as well as representatives from social service agencies serving homeless youth. The committee will collect data on youth housing stability, review discharge plans for youth leaving the custody of the state, and issue recommendations on sustainable housing, education and employment strategies for homeless youth, and how state agencies can work together to eliminate youth homelessness.

“Every child deserves a safe home, but for many children in Illinois, this seems like an impossible dream even though it should not,” Lilly said. “As legislators, we must work to ensure that every child has a safe home and I strongly encourage my colleagues in the Senate and Governor J.B. Pritzker to support this measure to help put Illinois on the path to eliminating youth homelessness.”