California to consider guaranteed income pilot for homeless youth
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People demand funding for housing subsidies and shelters outside San Francisco City Hall in 2019. Photo: Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images
A bill that would establish a guaranteed income pilot for homeless 12th-grade students in California will hit the state Senate Education Committee floor Wednesday.
Why it matters: Youth homelessness has been on the rise across the state, with many at higher risk of dropping out of school, turning to substance use and struggling with mental health challenges and chronic illnesses.
- Roughly 17,000 12th graders in California experienced homelessness during the 2023-24 academic year, census data shows.
Driving the news: The legislation, introduced by state Sen. Dave Cortese (D-Silicon Valley), would establish a statewide guaranteed pilot program that provides $1,000 in monthly direct cash payments to homeless students as they transition out of high school.
How it works: The goal is to bolster access to housing, employment and college opportunities. Participants would still be eligible for public assistance programs, student financial aid and California's earned income tax credit.
- Administered by the Department of Social Services, the California Success, Opportunity and Academic Resilience (SOAR) program would run from May 1 through Aug. 1 next year.
- The state agency would be required to work with an independent research institution to measure educational and economic security outcomes.
What they're saying: "In California, we have the unfortunate designation of having the largest homeless youth population in the nation, and many of our large cities are trying to turn that around," Cortese said in a statement.
- The idea for the pilot originated at San José State University, where 11% of the student population is unhoused in "one of the costliest areas in California," according to Cortese.
State of play: In San Francisco, there are almost 1,200 homeless youth — defined as unaccompanied minors under 18 and young adults ages 18-24 — on any given night, per the city's 2024 homelessness "point-in-time" count.
- That's up from roughly 1,100 in 2022 but less than the roughly 1,250 recorded in 2019.
- Black youth continue to account for a disproportionately high share.
Zoom in: The leading contributing cause of homelessness was financial struggles.
- 44% of homeless youth surveyed by the PIT count said they have psychiatric or emotional issues, while 29% said they have at least one disabling condition.
- 42% also reported being assaulted or attacked in the past year.
The intrigue: There was a 9% decrease from 2022 to 2024 in unsheltered youth homelessness, which covers those sleeping on streets, in vehicles or other places not meant for people to live.
- At the same time, there was a 76% increase in sheltered youth homelessness, including those who sleep in emergency shelters and transitional housing, which the city attributed to greater shelter capacity and utilization.
Yes, but: The city identified a 94% increase in family homelessness from 2022, a trend local advocates have warned can perpetuate cycles of poverty between generations.
What's next: The bill needs to pass the committee to get a vote on the state Senate floor before being sent to the Assembly for review.
Go deeper: Lurie looks to overhaul SF's homelessness response