By a 71-to-26 margin, the Washington House passed a bill Friday to create a state Office of Homeless Youth Prevention and Protection Program by Jan. 1. The Senate earlier passed the bill by Sen. Steve O'Ban, R-Tacoma, 48-1.
The bill would establish a small office responsible for coordinating a variety of policies and activities related to how homeless youth find housing, obtain education and employment, and reconcile with their families.
The measure is headed to Gov. Jay Inslee, who is expected to sign it into law. His staff testified in support of the final version of the bill.
"Homeless" students fall into several different categories in Washington, and the population fluctuates. Estimates of Washington's homeless student population range from roughly 30,000 to roughly 42,000. One state figure, from the 2012-2013 school year, was 30,609. That included 1,254 students who had no shelter at all.
