SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Suzy Glowiak is working to stomp out homelessness in Illinois, especially among children and youth.

Glowiak  (D-Western Springs) passed House Bill 2983, which creates the Youth Homelessness Prevention Subcommittee under the Governor's Cabinet on Children and Youth.

The subcommittee will review and make recommendations about the discharge policies and procedures for each agency that handles youth leaving the state's custody or guardianship to ensure youth housing stability.

“That we have homeless children is an indictment of our system of governance,” Glowiak said. “We need to find solutions to end homelessness among youth in our communities, and to provide stability and protection to children whose basic needs are not being met.”

According to the General Assembly’s findings, 1 out of 10 people between the ages of 18-25 are experiencing homelessness for some amount of time over a 12-month period. For those age 13-17, 1 in 30 experience a form of homelessness over a 12-month period.

“The least that any child in Illinois should expect is stable and secure housing. Determining how we provide that, and what broader education and employment opportunities to give our homeless youth, will be the purpose of this subcommittee,” Glowiak said.

House Bill 2983 is part of an effort to end youth homelessness by 2020. The Youth Homelessness Prevention Subcommittee will execute the vision set forth by the Cabinet on Children and Youth through efforts to prevent homelessness among youth leaving state systems of care.

“My hope is this subcommittee will create a long-term path to help us reach our goal to eliminate homelessness among our children once and for all,” Glowiak said.

House Bill 2983 passed the Senate with unanimous support and now heads to the governor’s desk for his signature.