MA Legislature Sends Homeless Youth Bill To Patrick

by Sue O'Connell

Bay Windows

Friday January 2, 2015

Massachusetts state legislature sent House Bill 4517 to Governor Deval Patrick for him to sign the bill into law. The bill instructs the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to establish programs that provide a continuum of housing and services for unaccompanied homeless youth.

Governor Patrick's last day in office in January 8, 2015. Governor-elect Charlie Baker succeeds him. Patrick is a Democrat, Baker is a Republican.

Approximately 40 per cent of homeless youth in the United States are LGBTQ, the vast majority of whom were put out by their homes by their parents. Of those homeless youth, about 40 per cent will die by suicide by age 26.

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