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Homelessness is a crisis we can solve — but only if we move beyond temporary fixes and commit to long-term, equitable investments in proven solutions. With the election now behind us, ³Ô¹Ïtv’s legislators have a chance to act for families this January when the 2025 session gets underway.

Homelessness requires sustained effort and a commitment to equitable, trauma-informed support systems. At the organization I lead, Building Changes, we see both the cost of inaction and the hope brought by well-funded, community programs. In the upcoming session, ³Ô¹Ïtv’s lawmakers have a vital chance to strengthen two key investments that have made a lasting difference for youth and families.

For 20 years, the ³Ô¹Ïtv Youth & Families Fund has been our state’s most important resource for driving innovative and equitable solutions to meet the needs of youth and families experiencing homelessness. Last year, 67% of families and youth in programs the fund supports — up from 47% in 2020. This progress was made possible by the Legislature’s $1 million increase for the fund in 2023. To sustain success for ³Ô¹Ïtv families, we are asking legislators to maintain this increase.ÌýÌý

The Homeless Student Stability Program, launched in 2016, provides housing support for homeless students and families, including unaccompanied youth. As the first program of its kind, it uses evidence-based strategies to tackle racial inequities in education and housing. Last year, ³Ô¹Ïtv identified 46,049 homeless students statewide. Of these, 26,209 were enrolled in the 49 school districts receiving funding from the Homeless Student Stability Program, and Ìý— 13,210 students — were directly supported by those funds. We are urging the Legislature to allocate an ongoing $2.6 million to the program to sustain the successful collaboration between housing and education partners.

Homelessness is often reported with doom and gloom, and the visible tragedy of this crisis fuels the perception that nothing can be done. Yet, coordinated and targeted programs like the ³Ô¹Ïtv Youth & Families Fund and Homeless Student Stability Program are making a difference — from 2016 to 2023, we saw a .Ìý

What’s more, these programs are tailored to meet the needs of Black, brown, Indigenous, and LGBTQ+ youth—serving those too often left out by traditional approaches.

No set of programs will solve homelessness entirely. Poverty, systemic racism, and policies that exacerbate inequality continue to fuel housing instability. But addressing these root causes means pushing beyond temporary fixes. We must close persistent funding gaps that limit our state’s ability to meet these challenges long-term.

Meaningful change requires sustained investment, not just crisis response. Fully funding the ³Ô¹Ïtv Youth & Families Fund and the Homeless Student Stability Program will expand their proven impact statewide. To reduce homelessness, these programs need consistent support for years to come, not just one budget cycle.