Press Release: Gov. Evers Signs Assembly Bill 52 Relating to Youth Homelessness

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers earlier this morning signed Assembly Bill 52, now 2019 Wisconsin Act 22, a bipartisan bill allowing 17-year-olds who are homeless and unaccompanied by a parent or guardian to contract for admission to a shelter facility or transitional living program if they are not already under the supervision of a social service agency. 

“No kid should have to worry about where they are going to sleep at night, but the reality is that there are thousands of homeless and unaccompanied kids across our state,” said Gov. Evers. “This bill gives some of those kids the ability to access safe, emergency housing when they are experiencing a crisis. With the cold winter months already here, I hope this is one of many bipartisan initiatives we can take to make sure folks experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity are able to be safe and warm this winter.”

Assembly Bill 52, now 2019 Wisconsin Act 22:

• Provides a mechanism for homeless and unaccompanied 17-year-olds to contract for admission to a shelter facility or transitional living program;
• Requires the minor not be under the supervision of a county department, a child welfare agency, the Department of Children and Families, or the Department of Corrections;
• Requires a school's homeless liaison to confirm, with the minor's consent, that the minor is unaccompanied; and 
• Allows an employee of a shelter facility or transitional living program to confirm a minor is an unaccompanied youth, if a school's homeless liaison is unavailable.