Bill > HB1540

This bill expands the existing students experiencing homelessness and foster youth program to include public tribal colleges located in Washington state that are accredited by recognized educational accreditation bodies. The program provides support services for students who are experiencing homelessness or were in foster care when graduating high school, such as access to laundry facilities, storage, reduced-price meals, technology, short-term housing assistance, and case management services. Public four-year institutions and participating tribal colleges will be required to develop plans for affordable housing, leverage community resources by providing information about homeless support services, and submit annual reports to the legislature. These reports must include data on the number of students assisted, strategies for accommodating students experiencing homelessness or food insecurity, and recommendations for improving support. The bill aims to provide additional educational support and resources for vulnerable student populations by broadening the existing program's reach to include accredited tribal colleges in Washington state.