The Honorable Firstname Lastname

The Honorable Firstname Lastname

U.S. House of Representatives

Washington DC 20515

Dear Representative Lastname:

I’m writing to urge you to sign-on as co-sponsor to the Homeless Children and Youth Act. This bi-partisan legislation would make it easier for local communities to help homeless children and youth and help put an end to the cycle of homelessness.

[INSERT INFORMATION OR DATA ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY, AGENCY OR PROGRAM, IF APPLICABLE. ALSO, IF APPLICABLE, DESCRIBE HOW YOUR COMMUNITY HAS BEEN HINDERED FROM ADDRESSING ITS MOST URGENT PRIORITIES FOR HOMELESS SERVICES DUE TO HUD POLICIES.]

Child and youth homelessness is different than adult homelessness. Homeless families with children and unaccompanied youth stay wherever they can. They often are forced to move frequently between living situations such as motels, or staying temporary with others temporarily, because there is no family or youth shelter in the community, shelters are full, or shelter policies exclude them. Thesechildren and youth face real harm, including negative emotional, educational, and health outcomes; they are at extremely high risk of physical and sexual abuse andtrafficking.

Federal child and youth programs, including early childhood programs and public schools, recognize all of the forms of homelessness that children and youth experience, but the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) does not. Instead, HUD homeless assistance eligibility criteria exclude some of the most vulnerable homeless children and youth from accessing the programs and services that they need.

In addition, HUD has forced a national priority for chronically homeless adults and program models most appropriate for them, regardless of the local needs. The result has been fewer services for, and less attention to, families and youth. The children and youth that HUD policy ignores today become the chronically homeless adults of tomorrow.

The HCYA would return decision-making to local communities and protect vulnerable children and youth. It would allow communities to servethe homeless children, youth and families they identify as most in need of assistance, by aligning HUD Homeless Assistance eligibility criteria with other federal programs.HCYA would empower local communities to use resources most efficiently to prevent and end homelessness in both the short- and long-term.

[GIVE EXAMPLE OF SOME OF THE PROBLEMS YOU SEE WITH HUD’S DEFINITION AND HUD’SPRIORITIES, DIFFICULTIES EXPERIENCEDBY FAMILIES/YOUTH, ETC.]

Please sign on as a co-sponsor of the HCYA today tohelp over one million homeless children and youth lead safer, healthier lives and have a better chance for a brighter future.