Senate Bill 5702, which would make permanent a state pilot program that offers support services to students facing homelessness and foster youth, cleared the Senate on Thursday with a 46-3 vote.
The Students Experiencing Homelessness and Foster Youth Pilot Program was first established by the Legislature in 2019 under SB 5800, which made available certain basic needs accommodations like short-term housing and reduced-price meals at certain institutions of higher education. In addition to making the program permanent, the bill this year would expand to all public colleges and universities in the state, including the state’s tribal college, Northwest Indian College.
WSU has participated in the pilot program since its inception and strongly supports the effort to make it permanent. This bill now heads to the House.