Not everyone who is homeless looks homeless. Some are youth struggling to maintain an education and survive in a cruel world. Many of these youth are homeless because they have aged out of foster care, or their foster care situation was worse than their former home situation. Homelessness is a solvable crisis, but only with a shift from temporary measures to long-term, equitable investments in proven solutions. With the recent election concluded Washington’s legislators have an opportunity to prioritize these issues during the 2025 legislative session in January.
Addressing homelessness requires sustained efforts and a commitment to equitable, trauma-informed support systems. Building Changes, a prominent organization in this field, highlights both the costs of inaction and the transformative potential of well-funded community programs. In the upcoming session, Washington lawmakers have a chance to bolster two crucial programs that have consistently made a lasting impact on youth and families.