IL HR0135

Approximately 26,400 youth experience homelessness in Illinois annually, with homeless youth having higher crime rates than those with stable housing.

A 2005 state-wide study found that 22% of homeless youth had been held in juvenile detention at an average cost of $53,645 per student annually.

Urges boards of trustees of all 9 public universities in Illinois to adopt housing scholarship programs for undergraduate students who self-report as homeless.

Housing scholarship program would provide aid for non-campus housing to full-time students with Homeless Status Certification from the Secretary of State Driver Services department.

Requests that public universities include funding for the housing scholarship program in their appropriations requests to the General Assembly.