IL HR0012

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

A 2005 statewide study found 22% of homeless youth were held in juvenile detention at an average annual cost of $53,645 per student.

Urges boards of trustees of all nine 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 who obtain Homeless Status Certification from the Secretary of State Driver Services department.

Requests that university boards of trustees include funding for the housing scholarship program in their appropriations requests to the General Assembly.