Young People to the Front

About JBAY and the Guests What JBAY does as an advocacy organization (not direct service)JBAY's work on state policy and budget investments for youth homelessnessHow both Simone and Brandon started in direct service before moving to advocacyWhat is HHAP? Flexible local aid administered by California Department of Housing and Community DevelopmentFunding goes to 58 counties, 14 largest cities, and 44 homeless Continuums of Care (CoCs)The "secret sauce": 10% youth set-aside policy requiring minimum funding for youth servicesWhy young people don't get served without designated funding requirementsThe Major Success: 24% Reduction in Youth Homelessness Youth homelessness dropped from 13,000 to 9,900 (2019-2024)Unsheltered youth homelessness dropped even more sharply by 42%Over 50,000 young people served by HHAP to dateThis happened while overall CA homelessness increased 24% and national youth homelessness increased 11%How Different Communities Used HHAP LA invested heavily in rapid rehousing (one-third of statewide spending)Santa Clara County adjusted allocations year-to-year based on community needs27% of grantees invested MORE than the required 10% in youth servicesRural communities built youth homelessness infrastructure from nothingImportance of COCs, cities, and counties coordinating servicesThe Current Funding Crisis HHAP absent from 2025-26 state budget for first time since 20192026-27 budget promises $500 million (half of previous $1 billion)Youth funding would drop from $80 million to $40 million annuallyFederal cuts compound the problem (HUD capping permanent housing at 30%, YHDP renewals now competitive)Unknown priorities of next California governorWhy Young People Are Vulnerable Coordinated entry systems prioritize chronic homelessness and comorbid conditionsYouth who bounce between housing situations don't get prioritizedYouth homelessness is less visible than adult homelessnessWithout set-aside policies, youth generally won't be served when funding is tightPath to Functional Zero What functional zero means: homelessness is rare, brief, and non-recurringCalifornia is trending toward functional zero for youthNeed sustained funding to maintain progressRisk of reversing the 24% reduction without HHAPData and Challenges Point-in-Time (PIT) counts are undercounts but useful for year-to-year comparisonsCOVID-era data limited because PIT count wasn't requiredNeed more sophisticated tracking of recidivism and long-term outcomesCommunities should track whether people maintain stable housingLocal and Philanthropic Options LA's Measure A could supplement HHAP if it includes youth set-asideCommunities should advocate for youth-specified funding locallyPhilanthropy can help during rough patches but isn't sustainable long-termGovernment's role to sustain homelessness response systemHow to Take Action Join JBAY's advocacy coalition for sustained HHAP investmentWrite letters and meet with state senators and assembly membersAttend Sacramento hearings and provide public commentAdvocate on social media and talk to mediaContact federal representatives about cutsAdvocate for youth set-aside policies in local investmentsEnsure advocacy comes from across California, not just major citiesKey statistics 24% reduction in youth homelessness in California (2019-2024)42% reduction in unsheltered youth homelessnessOver 50,000 youth served by HHAP to date27% of grantees exceeded the 10% youth funding requirementYouth funding at risk of dropping from $80 million to $40 million annuallyWebsite: jbay.org  Report: "Investing in Impact: How State Investment Reduced Youth Homelessness in California"