Senator is ensuring the administration properly implements Emergency Family Stabilization Funds for Arizona children and youth experiencing homelessness
WASHINGTON – Following Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema’s success securing funding for children and youth experiencing homelessness in the latest coronavirus-relief law, Sinema partnered with a bipartisan group of Senators to ensure the administration properly implements the Emergency Family Stabilization Funds providing critical support for Arizona families and children experiencing homelessness.
“Arizona families at risk of—or experiencing—homelessness deserve the resources and tools to keep their families safe and healthy during the public health crisis. The administration must swiftly and effectively implement our Emergency Family Stabilization Funding for families in need,” said Sinema.
Read Sinema’s letter HERE.
Sinema worked closely with Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) on developing the bipartisan Emergency Family Stabilization Act and successfully getting a version of the bill implemented as part of the latest coronavirus-relief package, the American Rescue Plan. Sinema’s bipartisan legislation created an $800 million fund to increase resources and housing for Arizona children and youth experiencing homelessness. The bipartisan letter urges the U.S. Department of Education to ensure the funding reaches state and local educational agencies, partnering with community-based organizations, to identify and support children and youth at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
The Emergency Family Stabilization Act helps child, youth, and family-serving agencies to provide immediate support to these families and individuals. Providing housing-related and other services to children, youth and families experiencing homelessness as early as possible will reduce transmission of the coronavirus and help prevent the lifelong impacts of homelessness.
Organizations could use funding for shelter and housing-related needs, such as eviction prevention, utility payments, motel stays, and housing placement assistance; health and safety needs, including food, hygiene supplies, and physical and mental health services; transportation, educational, employment, and other needs; specific needs of pregnant women and children; specific needs of unaccompanied homeless youth; specific needs of survivors of domestic violence, and assistance in accessing Economic Impact Payments, unemployment compensation, and other benefits provided by federal, state and local governments.
Sinema experienced homelessness and food insecurity as a child. In the U.S. Senate, Sinema has cosponsored legislation to end homelessness—such as the Emergency Rental Assistance and Rental Market Stabilization Act, which provides $100 billion to help families pay their rent and utility bills.