Homeless youth committee

AN ACT Relating to the office of homeless youth prevention and 1
protection programs advisory committee; and amending RCW 43.330.705.2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:3
Sec. 1. RCW 43.330.705 and 2019 c 124 s 5 are each amended to 4
read as follows: 5
(1) There is created the office of homeless youth prevention and 6
protection programs within the department. 7
(2) Activities of the office of homeless youth prevention and 8
protection programs must be carried out by a director of the office 9
of homeless youth prevention and protection programs, supervised by 10
the director of the department or his or her designee.11
(3) The office of homeless youth prevention and protection 12
programs is responsible for leading efforts under this subchapter to 13
coordinate a spectrum of ongoing and future funding, policy, and 14
practice efforts related to homeless youth and improving the safety, 15
health, and welfare of homeless youth in this state.16
(4) The measurable goals of the office of homeless youth 17
prevention and protection programs are to: (a) Measurably decrease 18
the number of homeless youth and young adults by identifying programs 19
that address the initial causes of homelessness, and (b) measurably 20
increase permanency rates among homeless youth by decreasing the 21
H-2495.3
HOUSE BILL 2185
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Fey, Leavitt, Reed, Santos, Zahn, and Wylie
Prefiled 12/22/25. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee
on Early Learning & Human Services.
p. 1 HB 2185
length and occurrences of youth homelessness caused by a youth's 1
separation from family or a legal guardian. 2
(5) The office of homeless youth prevention and protection 3
programs shall (a) gather data and outcome measures, (b) initiate 4
data-sharing agreements, (c) develop specific recommendations and 5
timelines to address funding, policy, and practice gaps within the 6
state system for addressing the five key components in RCW 7
43.330.700, (d) make reports, (e) increase system integration and 8
coordinate efforts to prevent state systems from discharging youth 9
and young adults into homelessness, (f) develop measures to include 10
by county and statewide the number of homeless youth, dependency 11
status, family reunification status, housing status, program 12
participation, and runaway status, and (g) develop a comprehensive 13
plan to encourage identification of youth experiencing homelessness, 14
promote family stability, and eliminate youth and young adult 15
homelessness. 16
(6)(a) The office of homeless youth prevention and protection 17
programs shall regularly consult with an advisory committee, 18
comprised of ((advocates, at)):19
(i) Advocates;20
(ii) At least two legislators((, at));21
(iii) At least two parent advocates((, at));22
(iv) At least two youth or young adult representatives((, at));23
(v) At least one representative from law enforcement ((, 24
service));25
(vi) Service providers((,));26
(vii) At least two individuals over the age of 25 who experienced 27
homelessness or involvement with a publicly funded system of care as 28
defined in RCW 43.330.720 at some point while age 12 through 24;29
(viii) At least two individuals who represent populations that 30
are disproportionately homeless or have experience in a publicly 31
funded system of care as defined in RCW 43.330.720 in the youth and 32
young adult population which includes but is not limited to 33
individuals with a tribal affiliation, people of color, and people 34
with a disability; and ((other))35
(ix) Other stakeholders knowledgeable in the provision of 36
services to homeless youth and young adults, including the prevention 37
of youth and young adult homelessness, the dependency system, and 38
family reunification((, for a total of twelve members)).39
p. 2 HB 2185
(b) The advisory committee shall provide guidance and 1
recommendations to the office of homeless youth prevention and 2
protection programs regarding funding, policy, and practice gaps 3
within and among state programs. 4
(((b))) (c) The advisory committee must be staffed by the 5
department. 6
(((c))) (d) The members of the advisory committee must be 7
appointed by the governor, except for the legislators who must be 8
appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and the 9
president of the senate. 10
(((d) The advisory committee must have its initial meeting no 11
later than March 1, 2016.12
(7) The office of homeless youth prevention and protection 13
programs must be operational no later than January 1, 2016. Transfer 14
of powers, duties, and functions of the department of children, 15
youth, and families to the department of commerce pertaining to youth 16
homeless services and programs identified in RCW 43.330.710(2) may 17
occur before this date))18
(e) A young adult serving on the advisory committee who turns age 19
25 during their term may complete their term on the advisory 20
committee even though they are age 25. 21
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p. 3 HB 2185