A3992

An Act establishing the “Youth Homelessness Guaranteed Income Pilot Program Act.”

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Youth Homelessness Guaranteed Income Pilot Program Act.”

2. The Legislature finds and declares that:

a. Each year, an estimated 4,200,000 youth and young adults experience homelessness in the United States.

b. According to a report by the Chapin Hall Voices of Youth Count project, one in 10 young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 experience some form of homelessness over the course of a year.

c. Youth and young adults face many barriers to safe and stable housing, such as systemic and structural racism, age discrimination, and a scarce supply of affordable housing suitable for occupancy.

d. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, one in five young people of color were living in poverty, as opposed to one in nine young white people, and the impact of the pandemic has resulted in a significant widening of the inequities faced by young adults of color when seeking safe housing and careers of their choice with stable income.

e. Full-time minimum-wage earners cannot afford the average cost of a two-bedroom apartment anywhere in the United States.

f. The changing nature of the economy, including the growth of the “gig economy” in which workers earn income providing on-demand work, services, or goods; unemployment risks posed by automation; and the fluctuating nature of waged labor will result in increased income volatility and prevent upward economic mobility, especially among young adults.

g. According to the Hudson County 2025 Point-in-Time Count, 1,091 individuals were identified as experiencing homelessness on a single night, with disproportionate impacts along racial lines.

h. The federal strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness has identified homeless youth as a priority population for targeted intervention and supports the use of local and systems-level plans.

i. Guaranteed income pilot programs in other states have demonstrated the potential value of cash stipends in improving economic stability and outcomes for individuals in need.

3. As used in this act:

“Adequate nighttime residence” means:

(1) a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations;

(2) an institution or a publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations;

(3) transitional housing;

(4) a temporary placement with a peer, friend, or family member that has not offered permanent residence, a residential lease, or temporary lodging for more than 30 days; or

(5) a public or private place not designed for, nor ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human habitation.

“Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development.

“Homeless youth” means an emancipated minor or an individual who is of 18 to 24 years of age who lacks an adequate nighttime residence.

“Program” means the “Youth Homelessness Guaranteed Income Pilot Program” established pursuant to this act.

“Wraparound services” means supportive services that address barriers to housing and employment including, but not limited to, housing navigation services, financial coaching, mental health services, education support, employment services, transportation, child care services, and retention services.

4. a. The Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development shall establish a one-year “Youth Homelessness Guaranteed Income Pilot Program,” including an enrollment, service delivery, and evaluation period, to provide a one-time payment of $5,000 and a monthly direct cash stipend of $1,200 for nine months to 50 homeless youth in Hudson County. The program shall be designed to meet the needs of underserved communities.

b. The commissioner, in consultation with the Office of Homelessness Prevention in the Department of Community Affairs and providers of services to individuals experiencing homelessness, shall:

(1) collect data relating to homeless youth under the program which shall include information necessary to determine the eligibility of the individual to participate in the program or administer the program with the individual as a participant and shall not include information regarding the citizenship status, immigration status, or Social Security number of any individual participating in the program;

(2) provide technical assistance and wraparound services to program participants;

(3) assist in identifying, applying for, and using any service or assistance available to a program participant that is funded under the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. s.11301 et seq.);

(4) study the data collected from participants in the program regarding housing status, economic stability, and other information relevant to the program; and

(5) submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), no later than the first day of the sixth month following the conclusion of the one-year pilot program. The report shall include findings and recommendations that would enhance the effectiveness of the program and a recommendation on whether the program should be continued or expanded.

c. Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, a cash stipend provided under this section shall not be considered income, assets, or personal property for the purpose of determining eligibility for a State-funded public assistance program for which the State has discretion to define income eligibility.

d. The Office of Homelessness Prevention in the Department of Community Affairs, in consultation with providers of services to individuals experiencing homelessness, shall provide recommendations to the commissioner on the following:

(1) the selection criteria for program participants that are consistent with the objectives of the program established pursuant to section 4 of this act;

(2) the forms of assistance to be provided under the program; and

(3) improvements to the performance and administration of the program.

e. The commissioner may promulgate regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act.

5. This act shall take effect the first day of the fourth month next following the date of enactment, except that the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development may take such anticipatory administrative action in advance as shall be necessary for the implementation of the act.

STATEMENT

This bill establishes “Youth Homelessness Guaranteed Income Pilot Program Act.”

The bill requires the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development to establish a one-year “Youth Homelessness Guaranteed Income Pilot Program” to provide a one-time payment of $5,000 and a monthly direct cash stipend of $1,200 for nine months to 50 homeless youth in Hudson County. “Homeless youth” is defined as an emancipated minor or an individual who is of 18 to 24 years of age who lacks an adequate nighttime residence.

Under the bill, the commissioner, in consultation with the Office of Homelessness Prevention in the Department of Community Affairs and certain service providers, is required to provide technical assistance and wraparound services to participants, assist participants in accessing other housing and assistance programs, and collect and analyze data related to housing status, economic stability, and other information relevant to the program.

The bill requires the commissioner to submit a report no later than the first day of the sixth month following the conclusion of the one-year pilot program including findings, recommendations to improve the program, and a recommendation on whether the program should be continued or expanded.

The bill provides that cash stipends are not considered income, assets, or personal property for the purpose of determining eligibility for a State-funded public assistance program for which the State has discretion to define income eligibility.