WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Erin Houchin (R-IN), Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) reintroduced the Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act to remove barriers to higher education for homeless and foster youth and help ensure they can pursue a higher education and get the support they need to thrive.
“Higher education should be an opportunity to every child in America, including students who have faced unimaginable circumstances like homelessness or aging out of foster care,” said Rep. Houchin. “As a former child services worker, I am proud to cosponsor the bipartisan Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act to ensure students facing these challenges have greater access to resources, opportunities, and support they need to succeed.”
“Everyone deserves a fair shot at pursuing higher education. But too often, foster youth and youth experiencing homelessness are priced out of pursuing their dreams or fall through the cracks once enrolled,” said Congresswoman Kamlager-Dove. “I’m proud to reintroduce this bill alongside Rep. Houchin and Sen. Murray to help even the playing field and ensure that these youth are supported throughout their education journeys. As a Representative of Los Angeles County—home to over 30,000 foster youth—I will continue to champion our most vulnerable young people.”
“Homeless and foster youth face barriers most students never have to think about, from proving their independence for financial aid to having nowhere to go over winter break—our country should have their back to make sure they have the same opportunities as any other students. These young people have already shown more grit than most of us will ever need. The least we can do is stop making access to higher education harder,” said Senator Murray. “Our bill can make sure that higher education is more affordable and accessible for homeless and foster youth—in-state tuition for kids without a stable address, prioritization for work-study programs, a real person at every institution to help these young people get the support they need, and more. We know that education can be the great equalizer and help these kids find financial security and stability—so let’s pass this bipartisan bill and make it happen.”
In 2025, 745,652 people experienced homelessness on a single night in the United States. More than 1.5 million children and youth in public schools across the country experienced homelessness during the 2023–24 school year.
The Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act of 2026 requires colleges and universities to take steps to improve outreach to and support for homeless and foster youth, prioritizes homeless and foster youth for Federal Work Study opportunities, provides in-state tuition rates for students who haven’t had stable residency, and improves data collection and reporting to better reach and serve homeless and foster youth—among other steps. Prior versions of the legislation proposed a number of critical improvements to the financial aid process for homeless and foster youth, which were subsequently enacted into law as part of the FAFSA Simplification Act.
The legislation is endorsed by SchoolHouse Connection, Foster Success, Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, ACTION Ohio (Alumni of Care Together Improving Outcomes Now), iFoster, Child Welfare League of America, Swipe Out Hunger, Teacher Education Division of the Council for Exceptional Children, All4Ed, EDGE Partners, The Hope Center for Student Basic Needs, Fostering Academic Achievement Nationwide (FAAN), Foster Greatness, National Center for Housing & Child Welfare, National Network for Youth, John Burton Advocates for Youth, National Association of Counsel for Children, Overcoming Hurdles in Ohio Youth Advisory Board (OHIO YAB), Hildreth Institute, Youth Law Center, Association of Children’s Residential & Community Services (ACRC), Center for Higher Education Policy and Practice at SNHU, Children’s Advocacy Institute, County Welfare Directors Association of California, Covenant House International, Education Law Center, Foster Care Alumni of America, Institute for Educational Leadership, Juvenile Law Center, Lutheran Services in America, National Association of County Human Services Administrators, National Education Association, Sayra and Neil Meyerhoff Center for Families, Children and the Courts, VOICES for Alabama’s Children, Washington State Post Secondary Basic Needs Coalition, and Youth Villages.
Full text of the legislation is available here.
