§ 4b — Youth transitional housing programs

(a) The Department may license youth transitional housing programs. For the purposes of this Section, "youth transitional housing program" means a program that provides shelter or housing and services to eligible homeless minors. Services provided by the youth transitional housing program may include a service assessment, individualized case management, and life skills training. The Department shall adopt rules governing the licensure of those programs. (b) A homeless minor is eligible if: (1) the homeless minor is at least 16 years of age but less than 18 years of age; (2) the homeless minor lacks a regular, fixed, and adequate place to live; (3) the homeless minor is living apart from the minor's parent or guardian; (4) the homeless minor desires to participate in a licensed youth transitional housing program; (5) a licensed youth transitional housing program is able to provide housing and services; (6) the licensed youth transitional housing program has determined the homeless minor is eligible for the youth transitional housing program; and (7) either the homeless minor's parent has consented to the transitional housing program or the minor has consented after: (A) a comprehensive community based youth service agency has provided crisis intervention services to the homeless minor under Section 3-5 of the Juvenile Court Act of 1987 and the agency was unable to achieve either family reunification or an alternate living arrangement; (B) the Department has not filed a petition alleging that the homeless minor is abused or neglected and the minor does not require placement in a residential facility, as defined by 89 Ill. Adm. Code 301.20; (C) the youth transitional housing program or comprehensive community based youth services agency has made reasonable efforts and documented its attempts to notify the homeless minor's parent or guardian of the homeless minor's intent to enter the youth transitional housing program. (d) If an eligible homeless minor voluntarily leaves or is dismissed from a youth transitional housing program prior to reaching the age of majority, the youth transitional housing program agency shall contact the comprehensive community based youth services agency that provided crisis intervention services to the eligible homeless minor under subdivision (b)(7)(A) of this Section to assist in finding an alternative placement for the minor. If the eligible homeless minor leaves the program before beginning services with the comprehensive community based youth service provider, then the youth transitional housing program shall notify the local law enforcement authorities and make reasonable efforts to notify the minor's parent or guardian that the minor has left the program. (e) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to require an eligible homeless minor to acquire the consent of a parent, guardian, or custodian to consent to a youth transitional housing program. An eligible homeless minor is deemed to have the legal capacity to consent to receiving housing and services from a licensed youth transitional housing program. (f) The purpose of this Section is to provide a means by which an eligible homeless minor may have the authority to consent, independent of the homeless minor's parents or guardian, to receive housing and services as described in subsection (a) of this Section provided by a licensed youth transitional housing program that has the ability to serve the homeless minor. This Section is not intended to interfere with the integrity of the family or the rights of parents and their children. This Section does not limit or exclude any means by which a minor may become emancipated.

Legislative History

(Source: P.A. 103-22, eff. 8-8-23.)