Designates November of each year as "New Jersey Homeless Children and Youth Awareness Month."

SJR115

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

No. 115

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 12, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT

District 31 (Hudson)

SYNOPSIS

���� Designates November of each year as �New Jersey
Homeless Children and Youth Awareness Month.�

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

A Joint
Resolution
designating November of each
year as �New Jersey Homeless Children and Youth Awareness Month.�

Whereas,

In the United States, public schools identified approximately 1,100,000
homeless children and youth during the 2020�2021 school year; and

Whereas,

An estimated 1,300,000 children younger than six years of age in 2018�2019 and
approximately 4,200,000 youth and young adults in 2017 experienced
homelessness; and

Whereas,

Infants experiencing homelessness are at a higher risk for certain illnesses
and health conditions, and families experiencing homelessness are more likely
to experience involvement in the child welfare system and difficulty with
school attendance; and

Whereas,

More than one in three high school students experiencing homelessness has
attempted suicide, and nearly one in four high school students experiencing
homelessness has experienced dating violence; and

Whereas,

Individuals without a high school degree or general educational development
certificate (GED) are three times more likely to report homelessness than their
peers, making lack of education the leading risk factor for homelessness; and

Whereas,

In 2018, the high school graduation rate for students experiencing homelessness
was 67.8 percent, compared to 80 percent for low-income students and 85.5
percent for all students; and

Whereas,

The rate of youth homelessness is the same in rural, suburban, and urban areas;
and

Whereas,

Twenty-nine percent of unaccompanied homeless youth between 13 and 25 years of
age have spent time in foster care, compared to approximately six percent of
all children; and

Whereas,

According to the New Jersey 2022 Point-In-Time Count, on the night of January
25th, 2022, a total of 6,631 households, including 8,754 persons, were
experiencing homelessness in New Jersey; and

Whereas,

Of the 6,631 homeless households counted in New Jersey in 2022, 988 were
families with at least one child under the age of 18 and one adult; and

Whereas,

A total of 1,750 persons were identified as chronically homeless, and 978
persons were unsheltered on the night of the count; and

Whereas,

Homeless youth, which is defined by the New Jersey 2022 Point-In-Time Count as
individuals and families with heads of households 24 years old or younger,
represented 8.9 percent of the counted homeless population, with 780 persons
identified; and

Whereas,

Homelessness among children and youth is a complex issue that often co-occurs
with deep poverty, low education and employment levels, substance misuse and
abuse, mental illness, lack of affordable housing, and family conflict; and

Whereas,

COVID�19 had a disproportionate effect on children, youth, and families
experiencing homelessness; and

Whereas,

Awareness of child and youth homelessness must be heightened to encourage
greater support for effective programs to help children and youth overcome
homelessness; now, therefore,

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

���� 1.� November of each year is
designated as �New Jersey Homeless Children and Youth Awareness Month.�

���� 2.� The Governor may annually
issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and citizens of the State to
observe �New Jersey Homeless Children and Youth Awareness Month� with
appropriate programs and activities.

���� 3.� This joint resolution
shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This resolution Designates
November of each year as �New Jersey Homeless Children and Youth Awareness
Month.�

���� In the United States, public
schools identified approximately 1,100,000 homeless children and youth during
the 2020�2021 school year.� An estimated 1,300,000 children younger than six
years of age in 2018�2019 and approximately 4,200,000 youth and young adults in
2017 experienced homelessness.� Infants experiencing homelessness are at a
higher risk for certain illnesses and health conditions, and families
experiencing homelessness are more likely to experience involvement in the
child welfare system and difficulty with school attendance.

���� More than one in three high
school students experiencing homelessness has attempted suicide, and nearly one
in four high school students experiencing homelessness has experienced dating
violence.� Individuals without a high school degree or general educational
development certificate (GED) are three times more likely to report
homelessness than their peers, making lack of education the leading risk factor
for homelessness.� In 2018, the high school graduation rate for students
experiencing homelessness was 67.8 percent, compared to 80 percent for
low-income students and 85.5 percent for all students.

���� According to the New Jersey
2022 Point-In-Time Count, on the night of January 25th, 2022, a total of 6,631
households, including 8,754 persons, were experiencing homelessness in New
Jersey.� Of the 6,631 homeless households counted in New Jersey in 2022, 988
were families with at least one child under the age of 18 and one adult.� A
total of 1,750 persons were identified as chronically homeless, and 978 persons
were unsheltered on the night of the count.� Homeless youth, which is defined
by the New Jersey 2022 Point-In-Time Count as individuals and families with
heads of households 24 years old or younger, represented 8.9 percent of the
counted homeless population, with 780 persons identified.

���� The rate of youth homelessness
is the same in rural, suburban, and urban areas.� Twenty-nine percent of
unaccompanied homeless youth between 13 and 25 years of age have spent time in
foster care, compared to approximately six percent of all children.� Homelessness
among children and youth is a complex issue that often co-occurs with deep
poverty, low education and employment levels, substance misuse and abuse,
mental illness, lack of affordable housing, and family conflict.� Awareness of
child and youth homelessness must be heightened to encourage greater support
for effective programs to help children and youth overcome homelessness.