A Way Home America

We know that right now a LOT of people are facing job insecurity, which can lead to many other forms of insecurity (e.g. housing, food, mental, etc). Part of our mission at A Way Home America is to use policy solutions to prevent factors leading to youth homelessness, on a path to ending and preventing homelessness for all.? As part of our commitment to shifting power to our communities, we host a job board on our monthly newsletter. We want to inspire individuals to consider applying for the listed positions that align with their career goals and skill set. We believe that those who intimately understand the challenges faced by individuals within service systems can play a crucial role in driving the necessary changes needed by those most-impacted. If you want to access our job board, subscribe to our monthly newsletter in the links in our bio or visit https://lnkd.in/eJaQFyi2 #endyouthhomelessness #homeless #homelessyouth #housingisahumanright

??Get Involved in the June 2025 State of the Movement! We’re seeking voices from across the movement to contribute to this critical conversation.? We welcome workshop proposals from facilitators, organizations, and advocates who align with our mission. We seek sessions that foster cross-sector collaboration, inspire action, and center youth leadership in justice movements. We’re especially interested in proposals that focus on: ? Systemic Barriers – Identifying structural challenges in housing, family support, immigration, the economy, and justice. ? Innovative Solutions – Highlighting transformative practices that uplift youth-led movements. ? Actionable Steps – Developing concrete strategies for policy change, power-building, and movement accountability. If you're interested in shaping this space, visit our event page at awayhomeamerica.org/sotm #endyouthhomelessness #homeless #homelessyouth #housingisahumanright

Registration for A Way Home America’s 2025 State of the Movement (SOTM) is Now Open! Date: June 11th,2024 & June 12th, 2025 Event Time: 11am-4 pm EST / 8am-1pm PST Free & Virtual The theme for the upcoming virtual session, "From Struggle to Strategy: Reimagining Justice For Youth Through Collective Power” emphasizes uniting communities, systems, and advocates to dismantle barriers and co-create transformative pathways for youth justice. It highlights the interconnectedness of justice across housing, families, immigration, the economy, and transformative practices, underscoring that true change requires collective action and shared accountability. Register at Awayhomeamerica.org/sotm ??Tell us in the comments below what you hope to get out of this year’s virtual event! #conference #youthhomelessness #webinar #housingjustice #awhasotm

??? Policy Recommendation #1: Invest in BIPOC, Migrant, and LGBTQ+ Communities by Funding Community-Led Organizations ??? Federal funding for youth homelessness services often bypasses the organizations that know their communities best: BIPOC-, migrant-, and LGBTQ+-led groups. These organizations face structural barriers to accessing resources, despite their deep trust and cultural understanding. ?? Read the full recommendation and join us in advocating for equitable funding: ??www.bit.ly/119policyagenda ??Learn more about the Immigration Justice pillar of our New Deal to End Youth Homelessness, which helped create this policy recommendation ?? https://lnkd.in/eH4YwMQ6 ?? This concludes our series on the 119th Congressional Policy Agenda. Thank you for following along! Together, we can build a future where every young person has a place to call home. ??Are you someone in the Homelessness Movement working in federal policy and want to join the Policy Squad? Contact our Public Policy Director, Josh Cogan for more information: [email protected]? Policy Squad is a monthly meeting for organizations, advocates, Youth & Young Adults with Lived Expertise (YYALE) of homelessness, and other stakeholders on a path to ending youth homelessness. This convening will update the larger group on: (1) federal legislative updates; (2) updates from partners in related work; and (3) updates from the Congressional On-the-Ground team. #FundCommunity #EndYouthHomelessness #HousingJustice

???? Policy Recommendation #2: Actualize Reparations for Black and Indigenous Americans, Including Land and Homeownership ???? Centuries of systemic racism, land theft, and housing discrimination have created vast wealth gaps for Black and Indigenous communities. Reparations are not just about justice—they’re about building a future where these communities can thrive. ?? Learn more about how reparations can transform housing justice: ?? www.bit.ly/119policyagenda ??Learn more about the Economic Justice pillar of our New Deal to End Youth Homelessness, which helped create this policy recommendation ?? https://lnkd.in/e2mdMZVY ?? Next up: Policy Recommendation #1—Invest in BIPOC, Migrant, and LGBTQ+ Communities by Funding Community-Led Organizations. Don’t miss the final post in this series! #ReparationsNow #EndYouthHomelessness #HousingJustice

? Policy Recommendation #3: End the Use of Police and Carceral Control in Youth-Serving Systems ? Policing and punitive measures in schools, homeless services, and child welfare systems disproportionately criminalize Black, Indigenous, and LGBTQ+ youth. These practices perpetuate cycles of homelessness, trauma, and systemic inequity. ?? Join us in reimagining a future where youth are supported, not criminalized: ?? www.bit.ly/119policyagenda ??Learn more about the Transformative Justice pillar of our New Deal to End Youth Homelessness, which helped create this policy recommendation ?? https://lnkd.in/eS437pZ8 ?? Next up: Policy Recommendation #2—Actualize Reparations for Black and Indigenous Americans, Including Land and Homeownership. Stay tuned! #CareNotCages #EndYouthHomelessness #HousingJustice

?? Policy Recommendation #4: Invest in Youth and Family Supportive Services with the Lowest Possible Access Points ?? Too many young people and families face unnecessary barriers to accessing critical services like housing, healthcare, and reunification support. These barriers are especially harmful for Black, Brown, Indigenous, and LGBTQ+ communities, who often distrust systems due to histories of harm. ?? Learn more about how we can rebuild trust and expand access to care: ?? www.bit.ly/119policyagenda ??Learn more about the Child and Family Well-Being Justice pillar of our New Deal to End Youth Homelessness, which helped create this policy recommendation ?? https://lnkd.in/etYS4nHR ?? Next up: Policy Recommendation #3—End the Use of Police and Carceral Control in Youth-Serving Systems. Don’t miss it! #SupportNotStigma #EndYouthHomelessness #HousingJustice

?? Introducing A Way Home America’s 119th Congressional Policy Agenda!?? This policy agenda was created in collaboration with our Youth Policy Team (YPT), a group of young leaders with lived experience in youth-serving systems. Together, we’ve crafted 5 transformative recommendations to address the root causes of youth homelessness and build a future where every young person thrives. First Up: ??Policy Recommendation #5: Fully Support Education Pathways Connected to Basic Human Needs for All Youth and Young Adults ?? Youth experiencing homelessness face systemic barriers to education, from accessing federal student aid to affording basic needs like housing and food. Black students are disproportionately burdened by student loan debt, perpetuating cycles of poverty and housing insecurity. ?? Read the full recommendation and join us in advocating for equitable education access: ?? www.bit.ly/119policyagenda ??Learn more about the 5 pillars of our New Deal to End Youth Homelessness, which helped create these policy recommendations ?? https://lnkd.in/eg8NeBSP ?? Next up: Policy Recommendation #4—Invest in Youth and Family Supportive Services with the Lowest Possible Access Points. Stay tuned! #EducationForAll #EndYouthHomelessness #HousingJustice

The A Way Home America team is in Washington DC for our New Deal Hill Day, educating US policymakers and advocating for transformative policies to prevent and end youth homelessness ??. If we speak truth to power, we can help to resource and empower the communities of youth who depend on our work ???? #endyouthhomelessness #awha #hillday #uscapitol

At A Way Home America, our mission is to transform systems through public policy to prevent and end homelessness for Black, Indigenous, youth of color, and LGBTQIA+ youth, on a path to housing justice for all. But right now, we’re seeing coordinated attacks on unhoused people and the frontline workers who dedicate their lives to helping them. From Fremont, CA, making it a crime to provide tents to those in need, to Oklahoma limiting homeless services to larger cities, these policies are not just cruel—they’re deadly. Instead of addressing the root causes of homelessness, elected officials are criminalizing survival and slashing the budgets and staff that provide life-saving services. We cannot let this stand. No one should have to choose between freezing to death on the streets or being arrested for seeking shelter. We need solutions—like repurposing unused buildings, expanding housing vouchers, and investing in mental health and substance abuse recovery services—not criminalization. This is a moment to come together. We are the rebel forces fighting for a future where everyone has a safe place to call home. Call your elected officials, join protests, and share this message. Let’s make it clear: we want leaders who solve hard problems for all of us, not just the wealthy and powerful. #HousingJustice #EndHomelessness #AWayHomeAmerica #HousingNotHandcuffs