Quick Facts: Wisconsin
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Law & Policy: 54% of metrics met
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Laws authorizing comprehensive supports and services for youth experiencing homelessness: 33% of metrics met
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Preventing youth experiencing homelessness from coming into contact with the criminal and juvenile justice systems: 52% of metrics met
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Providing unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness the opportunity to seek legal independence and live independently: 88% of metrics met
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Addressing the educational needs of youth experiencing homelessness: 17% of metrics met
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Allowing youth experiencing homelessness to access critical supports and services: 67% of metrics met
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Systems: 94% of metrics met
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Environment: 24% of metrics met
State Score 2020: 56
State Ranking 2020: 16
Wisconsin Highlights
Wisconsin has moved the needle relative to other states in allowing youth experiencing homelessness access to critical supports and services and building systems to comprehensively address homelessness.
Law & Policy
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The state gives minors contract rights OR allows them to enter into binding contracts for certain purposes (e.g. necessities).
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The state explicitly allows unaccompanied youth under 18 to apply for health insurance coverage (without parental consent).
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The state allows shelters to take in homeless youth with a delay or waiver of notification requirements.
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The state doesn’t consider running away a criminal offense.
Systems
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There is a state entity (Office of homeless youth services, homeless youth state coordinator, commission on homeless youth, etc.) that focuses solely on youth homelessness.
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There is a current state plan to end homelessness.
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The state plan has a "youth" component.
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Environment
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The state maintains a community advisory board for youth that informs youth homelessness policy.
Recommendations for Improvement
There is room for improvement throughout the metrics for the Badger State, with emphasis on the Law & Policy and Environment categories. Laws authorizing comprehensive supports and services for youth experiencing homelessness and protecting the rights and interests of LGBTQ youth should be prioritized.
Law & Policy
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The state should explicitly allow partial and alternative school credit accrual for homeless youth through regulations.
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The state should pass a law that funds and provides oversight and regulation to youth homelessness services.
Systems
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The state should provide public college tuition waivers to youth who were in foster care anytime after their 13th birthday.
Environment
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The state should require training about sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, healthy sexual development or issues specific to LGBTQ+ youth for staff working in RHY Systems.
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The state should establish nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ youth in youth homelessness services.
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