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1 Findings. The general court hereby finds that:
I. Nationally one in 10 adults ages 18 to 25 and one in 30 youth ages 13-18 will experience homelessness each year. The 2020 Point-in Time Count of individuals experiencing homelessness in New Hampshire demonstrated a 21 percent increase in homelessness from 2019. Approximately 15,000 youth experience homelessness in New Hampshire each year.
II. Research has shown that brain development continues to at least age 25. Youth homelessness is an adverse childhood experience that impacts brain, social and emotional development. In addition, the age range of 18-25 is a critical time for social, emotional and financial development as youth become independent. Experiences during this time can impact the trajectory of young adults well into their adult lives.
III. Youth and young adults who experience homelessness may have an interruption or cessation of education. They are also more likely to be subject to abuse or neglect and suffer from mental health or substance use disorders. Youth and young adults who are homeless are also at a much higher risk of being trafficked than those with a secure, stable living environment.
IV. The 2022 New Hampshire Youth Count found that of 1,476 youth and young adult respondents 46 percent indicated they are unstably housed and 8 percent reported being unsheltered. Forty percent of those respondents indicated engaging in survival sex. The 2022 Youth Count further found that of 495 college student respondents 42 percent reported being unstably housed, and 26 percent indicated engaging in survival sex.
V. Youth and young adults experience homelessness for a variety of reasons. Many experience homelessness because of family poverty. Some leave their homes in response to abuse or neglect. Some are forced out of their homes by parents and caregivers who are not accepting of the youth or young adult's behavior or sexual or gender identity. Some youth and young adults exit foster or institutional care, the juvenile justice or the mental health care system with little or no supports or life skills.
VI. Youth who experience homelessness are more likely to experience homelessness in adulthood. Focus groups conducted in 2022 by the New Hampshire Youth Success Project with youth and young adults who have experienced homelessness found that most participants first experienced homelessness as minors.
VII. Youth and young adults who experience homelessness need immediate services to ensure safe, stable housing, resources and support. Homeless youth services within the state do not meet the current need, especially in the rural, less densely populated areas of the state.
2 New Paragraphs; Office of the Child Advocate; Definitions Added. Amend RSA 21-V:1 by inserting after paragraph X the following new paragraphs:
XI. "Runaway and missing youth" means an unmarried child under the age of 18 years 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.
XII. "Youth experiencing homelessness" means a person who is 25 years of age or younger, including minors:
(a) Who are unaccompanied by a parent or legal guardian and are without shelter where appropriate care and supervision are available.
(b) Whose parents or legal guardians are unable to provide shelter and care due to homelessness, or who are unwilling to do so.
(c) Who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including in the following circumstances:
(1) Sharing housing with others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason;
(2) Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations;
(3) Living in emergency or transitional shelters;
(4) Abandoned in a hospital;
(5) Living in as a primary residence a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings; or
(6) Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings.
(d) Those youth identified to be experiencing homelessness do not include persons incarcerated or otherwise detained under federal or state law.
XIII. "Youth at risk of homelessness" means a person 25 years of age or younger, including minors, whose status or circumstances indicate a significant danger of experiencing homelessness in the near future. Status or circumstances that indicate a significant danger may include:
(a) Youth exiting out-of-home placements.
(b) Youth exiting systems into homelessness, including hospitals, inpatient facilities, and detention.
(c) Youth who previously were homeless.
(d) Youth whose parents or primary caregivers are or were previously homeless.
(e) Youth who were exposed to abuse and/or neglect in their homes.
(f) Youth who experience conflict with parents due to chemical or alcohol dependency, mental health disabilities, or other disabilities.
(g) Youth at-risk of becoming homeless for any reason.
(h) Runaway, missing, or trafficked youth.
3 New Paragraph; Responsibilities of the Office of the Child Advocate; Programs Dealing with Youth Experiencing Homelessness, Youth at Risk of Homelessness, or Runaway Youth. Amend RSA 21-V:2 by inserting after paragraph VIII the following new paragraph:
IX.(a) Identify and oversee existing agency programs dealing with youth experiencing homelessness, youth at risk of homelessness, and runaway and missing youth and analyze effectiveness of such programs;
(b) Develop a directory of service providers for youth experiencing homelessness, youth at risk of homelessness, and runaway youth; consult with youth with lived expertise as well as any state, federal and local agency, and public, private, and nonprofit organizations or programs that have experience with and responsibilities for youth experiencing homelessness, youth at risk of homelessness, and runway or missing youth concerning the coordination and integration of services available for such youth, including education, housing, transportation, mental and behavioral health, medical care, and nutrition;
(c) Identify needs and accompanying resources to increase prevention of youth homelessness, state-wide capacity and coordination of services to youth experiencing homelessness, youth at risk of homelessness and runaway youth and missing youth;
(d) Identify existing funding sources for services to youth experiencing homelessness, youth at risk of homelessness and runaway youth; advocate for potential funding sources for services and programs for youth experiencing homelessness, youth at risk of homelessness and runaway and missing youth; and
(e) Provide information to the public regarding such programs and resources.
4 Appropriation; Office of the Child Advocate. The sum of $150,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, is hereby appropriated to the office of the child advocate for the purpose of establishing an additional staff position within the office to support the programs and duties described in section 3 of this act. The governor shall determine if any discretionary funds appropriated in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Public Law 117-2, or other federal funds, can be used for this purpose; and any remainder shall be general funds. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for the general fund share of said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
5 Effective Date.
I. Section 4 of this act shall take effect June 30, 2024.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.
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1 Findings. The general court hereby finds that:
I. Nationally one in 10 adults ages 18 to 25 and one in 30 youth ages 13-18 will experience homelessness each year. The 2020 Point-in Time Count of individuals experiencing homelessness in New Hampshire demonstrated a 21 percent increase in homelessness from 2019. Approximately 15,000 youth experience homelessness in New Hampshire each year.
II. Research has shown that brain development continues to at least age 25. Youth homelessness is an adverse childhood experience that impacts brain, social and emotional development. In addition, the age range of 18-25 is a critical time for social, emotional and financial development as youth become independent. Experiences during this time can impact the trajectory of young adults well into their adult lives.
III. Youth and young adults who experience homelessness may have an interruption or cessation of education. They are also more likely to be subject to abuse or neglect and suffer from mental health or substance use disorders. Youth and young adults who are homeless are also at a much higher risk of being trafficked than those with a secure, stable living environment.
IV. The 2022 New Hampshire Youth Count found that of 1,476 youth and young adult respondents 46 percent indicated they are unstably housed and 8 percent reported being unsheltered. Forty percent of those respondents indicated engaging in survival sex. The 2022 Youth Count further found that of 495 college student respondents 42 percent reported being unstably housed, and 26 percent indicated engaging in survival sex.
V. Youth and young adults experience homelessness for a variety of reasons. Many experience homelessness because of family poverty. Some leave their homes in response to abuse or neglect. Some are forced out of their homes by parents and caregivers who are not accepting of the youth or young adult's behavior or sexual or gender identity. Some youth and young adults exit foster or institutional care, the juvenile justice or the mental health care system with little or no supports or life skills.
VI. Youth who experience homelessness are more likely to experience homelessness in adulthood. Focus groups conducted in 2022 by the New Hampshire Youth Success Project with youth and young adults who have experienced homelessness found that most participants first experienced homelessness as minors.
VII. Youth and young adults who experience homelessness need immediate services to ensure safe, stable housing, resources and support. Homeless youth services within the state do not meet the current need, especially in the rural, less densely populated areas of the state.
2 New Paragraphs; Office of the Child Advocate; Definitions Added. Amend RSA 21-V:1 by inserting after paragraph X the following new paragraphs:
XI. "Runaway and missing youth" means an unmarried child under the age of 18 years 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.
XII. "Youth experiencing homelessness" means a person who is 25 years of age or younger, including minors:
(a) Who are unaccompanied by a parent or legal guardian and are without shelter where appropriate care and supervision are available.
(b) Whose parents or legal guardians are unable to provide shelter and care due to homelessness, or who are unwilling to do so.
(c) Who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including in the following circumstances:
(1) Sharing housing with others due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason;
(2) Living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations;
(3) Living in emergency or transitional shelters;
(4) Abandoned in a hospital;
(5) Living in as a primary residence a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings; or
(6) Living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings.
(d) Those youth identified to be experiencing homelessness do not include persons incarcerated or otherwise detained under federal or state law.
XIII. "Youth at risk of homelessness" means a person 25 years of age or younger, including minors, whose status or circumstances indicate a significant danger of experiencing homelessness in the near future. Status or circumstances that indicate a significant danger may include:
(a) Youth exiting out-of-home placements.
(b) Youth exiting systems into homelessness, including hospitals, inpatient facilities, and detention.
(c) Youth who previously were homeless.
(d) Youth whose parents or primary caregivers are or were previously homeless.
(e) Youth who were exposed to abuse and/or neglect in their homes.
(f) Youth who experience conflict with parents due to chemical or alcohol dependency, mental health disabilities, or other disabilities.
(g) Youth at-risk of becoming homeless for any reason.
(h) Runaway, missing, or trafficked youth.
3 New Paragraph; Responsibilities of the Office of the Child Advocate; Programs Dealing with Youth Experiencing Homelessness, Youth at Risk of Homelessness, or Runaway Youth. Amend RSA 21-V:2 by inserting after paragraph VIII the following new paragraph:
IX.(a) Identify and oversee existing agency programs dealing with youth experiencing homelessness, youth at risk of homelessness, and runaway and missing youth and analyze effectiveness of such programs;
(b) Develop a directory of service providers for youth experiencing homelessness, youth at risk of homelessness, and runaway youth; consult with youth with lived expertise as well as any state, federal and local agency, and public, private, and nonprofit organizations or programs that have experience with and responsibilities for youth experiencing homelessness, youth at risk of homelessness, and runway or missing youth concerning the coordination and integration of services available for such youth, including education, housing, transportation, mental and behavioral health, medical care, and nutrition;
(c) Identify needs and accompanying resources to increase prevention of youth homelessness, state-wide capacity and coordination of services to youth experiencing homelessness, youth at risk of homelessness and runaway youth and missing youth;
(d) Identify existing funding sources for services to youth experiencing homelessness, youth at risk of homelessness and runaway youth; advocate for potential funding sources for services and programs for youth experiencing homelessness, youth at risk of homelessness and runaway and missing youth; and
(e) Provide information to the public regarding such programs and resources.
4 Appropriation; Office of the Child Advocate. The sum of $150,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, is hereby appropriated to the office of the child advocate for the purpose of establishing an additional staff position within the office to support the programs and duties described in section 3 of this act. The governor shall determine if any discretionary funds appropriated in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Public Law 117-2, or other federal funds, can be used for this purpose; and any remainder shall be general funds. The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for the general fund share of said sum out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.
5 Effective Date.
I. Section 4 of this act shall take effect June 30, 2024.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.