Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2025

Key Points

• The bill reauthorizes and expands federal programs providing shelter, counseling, and support services for runaway and homeless youth. It creates 5-year grants for basic centers, transitional living programs, and street outreach, with shelters required to offer trauma-informed care, suicide prevention, and substance use disorder education.
• The bill raises the age limit for youth served by transitional living programs from 21 to 26, expanding eligibility so more young adults can access housing and services during a critical period of development. Programs must prioritize youth ages 15 to 21 but may serve those up to 26.
• A new Prevention Services grant program is created to help stop youth from becoming homeless or running away in the first place. These grants fund family counseling, mediation, emergency respite care, case management, and connections to education, employment, and mental health services.
• The bill authorizes $200 million for core youth programs, $50 million for street outreach, and $67.5 million for prevention services in fiscal year 2026, with additional funding authorized through 2030. Individual grants would range from $200,000 to $275,000 depending on total appropriations.
• The bill adds strong nondiscrimination protections, barring programs from excluding youth based on race, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability. It also requires grantees to help homeless youth apply for federal student aid by informing them of their independent student status.