

Quick Facts & Stats
State Ranking: 48
Overall Score: 30
Last Year's Score: 37
Performance Breakdown
- Law & Policy: 40% of metrics met
- Laws authorizing comprehensive supports and services for youth experiencing homelessness: 42% of metrics met
- Preventing youth experiencing homelessness from coming into contact with the criminal and juvenile justice systems: 43% of metrics met
- Providing unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness the opportunity to seek legal independence and live independently: 38% of metrics met
- Addressing the educational needs of youth experiencing homelessness: 33% of metrics met
- Allowing youth experiencing homelessness to access critical supports and services: 39% of metrics met
- Systems: 22% of metrics met
- Environment: 0% of metrics met
State Highlights
Nebraska has not moved the needle relative to other states in any key areas, but there are some individual policies worth highlighting.
Law & Policy
- The state has a grievance process for students experiencing homelessness that complies with federal law.
- State law does not specifically criminalize running away.
Systems
- Youth under 18 are able to obtain state-issued identification cards without parental consent.
- The state has an interagency council on homelessness.
Environment
- None.
Recommendations for Improvement
There is room for improvement throughout the metrics for the Cornhusker State, with emphasis on the Law & Policy and Environment categories. Laws authorizing comprehensive supports and services for youth experiencing homelessness and protecting the rights and interests of youth experiencing homelessness, including LGBTQ youth, should be prioritized.
Law & Policy
- Enact and fund a state law similar to the federal RHYA to provide key intervention and emergency services for youth experiencing homelessness.
- Enact state law that allows youth in need of supervision to receive services without court involvement.
Systems
- Draft and publish state plan to prevent and end youth homelessness, including strategies to address homelessness among LGBTQ youth.
- Create a state entity - such as an Office of Homeless Youth Services - that focuses solely on designing, implementing, and evaluating youth homelessness programs.
Environment
- Organize and maintain a self-governing youth action board or council to inform youth homelessness policy within the state.
- Require training about sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, healthy sexual development, or issues specific to LGBTQ youth for staff working in runaway and homeless youth systems.
- Promote safe and inclusive environments in child welfare, juvenile justice, and runaway and homeless youth programs by providing protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
- Ban controversial and ineffective service provision that includes conversion therapy.