Advocacy
At Bill Wilson Center, we believe in engaging with our communities and elected officials to support systems change that ends youth and young adult homelessness, and improves equity and justice for youth and families.
In order to achieve this goal, we want to engage our community of volunteers, partners, donors, clients and stakeholders in raising our collective voice to make change. Below is a list of our current top policy priorities, as well as links with additional information and resources.
We hope you will join us and take action to make change in our communities.
Governmental Advocacy Opportunities
FEDERAL
We have met with our members of Congress to advocate for the following appropriations:
- Reauthorizing the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, and make $300m in FY24 appropriations
- Appropriating $800m for the Education for Homeless Children and Youth program
- Appropriating $100m for the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program
- Appropriating $300m for the Emergency Solutions Grant program in FY24
These programs and funding sources have a direct impact in our region, and in communities throughout the United States.
For more information about these policy and funding requests, visit our partner, the National Network for Youth.
How to Take Action
To make change locally, speak during public comment at your local City Council meeting or during the Board of Supervisors meeting. Click here for tips on giving public comment during a City or County meeting.
To make change at the state level, call or email your representative. Click here to find your California State Senate and Assembly representatives.
To support change at the federal level, call or email your elected official. Click here to find your members of Congress.
For more information about how to support our policy work, please contact Josh Selo, Chief Executive Officer, at jselo@billwilsoncenter.org or 408-850-6139
