Senator Dave Cortese Introduces A Bill To Give Homeless Youth a Pathway to Employment and College

SACRAMENTO - With a staggering number of youth experiencing homelessness in high school, California State Senator Dave Cortese (D-Silicon Valley) has introduced Senate Bill 33 establishing a statewide guaranteed income pilot program to provide homeless students with direct cash assistance to support their transition out of high school. The goal is to give them access to employment and college.

SB 33 will go to the Senate Education Committee this Wednesday, March 19 at 9 a.m. where committee members will take action.  You can watch the hearing by clicking here: https://sedn.senate.ca.gov/committeehome

“In California, we have the unfortunate designation of having the largest homeless youth population in the nation and many of our large cities are trying to turn that around.  My idea for SB 33 was spawned at San Jose State University where 11 percent of the student population is unhoused in one of the costliest areas in California,” said Senator Dave Cortese, who spearheaded the nation's first guaranteed income program for foster youth in Santa Clara County.

According to Census Data, approximately 17,000 students in California were experiencing homelessness were enrolled in the 12th grade during the 2023-2024 academic year, a 2,000 student increase from the previous year. In Santa Clara County, approximately 5,000 students in K-12 were homeless in 2023-2024, a 500 student increase from the previous year, according to the California Department of Education.  

The guaranteed income pilot program is titled the California SOAR (Success, Opportunity & Academic Resilience Guaranteed Income Program.)

  • The program will provide $1,000 in direct cash assistance to youth from May 1, 2026 through August 1, 2026. Cal SOAR will be administered by the Department of Social Services.
  • Additionally the bill tries to create protections from any impact on public assistance programs, student financial aid and the California Earned Income Tax Credit.
  • The bill also directs the Department to measure student employment and education attainment outcomes. 

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