Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2025

This bill renews and updates federal help for runaway and homeless youth. It funds local shelters, housing, and street outreach for up to five years at a time. Programs must be trauma‑informed and culturally and language appropriate. Required services can include safe short‑term shelter, counseling, suicide prevention, help with substance use, and, if requested, STI testing. Programs should also help youth connect with caring adults, continue school or job training, and, when safe, reconnect with family. Providers can confirm a young person’s “independent student” status and help with the FAFSA to unlock college aid. The bill places a strong focus on youth at risk of sexual exploitation and trafficking and expands street outreach to prevent abuse and trafficking. It also improves data collection while protecting identities. Priority goes to groups with proven experience serving these youth, and services often focus first on ages 15–21, with some support up to age 25.

It adds optional “prevention services” grants so successful shelter or housing programs can help keep youth from becoming homeless in the first place, with smaller grants encouraged for targeted local work. It also lets the federal agency grant short waivers, like during disasters, to keep services running smoothly. The bill authorizes new funding levels, with most money reserved for core shelter and housing programs, plus dedicated funds for street outreach and other supports.

Key points

• Who is affected: Runaway, homeless, and street‑involved youth, including LGBTQ youth, youth of color, pregnant/parenting youth, and youth involved with child welfare or justice systems; families and caregivers; local nonprofits and public agencies that serve them.
• What changes:
  • 5‑year grants for shelters, transitional housing, and street outreach; priority to experienced providers.
  • Required, youth‑appropriate services: shelter, counseling, suicide prevention, help with school/job training; option for STI testing; FAFSA help.
  • Expanded focus on preventing sexual abuse and trafficking, with dedicated street outreach.
  • Added prevention grants to stop homelessness before it starts.
  • Better data on who is served, without naming individuals.
  • Limited, time‑bound waivers to keep services going during emergencies.
• When/funding: Authorizes funding starting in fiscal year 2026, including major support for core programs and set‑asides for outreach and other parts.