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Quick Facts & Stats
State Ranking: 41
Overall Score: 37
Performance Breakdown
- Law & Policy: 44% of metrics met
- Laws authorizing comprehensive supports and services for youth experiencing homelessness: 0% 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: 63% of metrics met
- Addressing the educational needs of youth experiencing homelessness: 67% of metrics met
- Allowing youth experiencing homelessness to access critical supports and services: 50% of metrics met
- Systems: 48% of metrics met
- Environment: 0% of metrics met
State Highlights
Some areas where Nebraska has moved the needle relative to other states includes providing contract rights for youth experiencing homelessness, independent health insurance coverage, and maintaining a state plan to end homelessness.
Law & Policy
- State law provides youth experiencing homelessness some contract rights.
- The state has a grievance process in compliance with federal law.
- State allows unaccompanied youth under 18 to apply for health insurance coverage on their own.
Systems
- There is a current state plan to end homelessness that contains a youth-specific strategy component.
Environment
- None
Recommendations for Improvement
There is room for improvement throughout the metrics for the Cornhusker State, with emphasis on the Environment category. Creating a coordinated state response to youth 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.
- Declassify running away as a status offense.
Systems
- As part of the state plan to prevent and end youth homelessness, include a strategy 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.
- Create an Interagency Council on Homelessness that mirrors the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), providing a multi-sectoral approach to preventing and ending youth homelessness.
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.
- Ban controversial and ineffective service provision that includes conversion therapy.
- 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.