Urge Congress to pass the Family Unification, Preservation and Modernization Act!

Every year, more than 1.3 million youth experience homelessness in the U.S.

Unstable housing and a lack of support services plays a key role in youth homelessness and tears hundreds of families apart. Children are removed from unstable homes by child welfare agencies, or families on the verge of homelessness may have no other option but to place their children in foster care. All too often, children "age out" of the foster care system and are left to fend on their own with little to no resources.

Thankfully, an important piece of legislation has been introduced to combat youth homelessness. The Family Unification, Preservation and Modernization Act would improve support services and housing for youth and families, and ensure children are raised in supportive, stable households. This act would improve the Family Unification Program (FUP) by:

• Utilizing a 'housing first' model, ensuring safe and stable housing for youth and families
• Removing the arbitrary 18-month timeline for youth vouchers and replacing it with a more administratively-manageable 36-month timeline
• Expanding youth eligibility to those who are 18 to 24 who have left foster care at age 14 or older or who will leave foster care within 90 days and are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless

Please urge Congress to pass the Family Unification, Preservation and Modernization Act!