Youth Housing and Homelessness Task Force
Launched as part of NACo President George Dunlap's Building Better Futures presidential spotlight, the Youth Housing and Homelessness Task Force brings together county leaders from across the country to examine what counties are doing to support young people facing homelessness and housing instability and to strengthen those efforts through local government action, public-private partnerships and cross-sector collaboration. The task force will conclude its work at the NACo Annual Conference in Chatham County, Ga. in July 2027.
4.2 M
young people and young adults experience homelessness in the U.S. each year
1 in 30
youth ages 13 to 17 experience homelessness over the course of a year
31–46%
of youth who exit foster care experience homelessness by age 26
About the Task Force
Youth experiencing homelessness and housing instability may interact with various county-administered services, including child welfare, juvenile justice, behavioral health, workforce development, emergency services and community programs. Thus, counties are well positioned to leverage these touchpoints to connect young people to the resources they need. At critical points, such as when a young person is transitioning out of foster care, completing a juvenile justice program or leaving a behavioral health placement, counties can convene people and resources to build a continuum on support for young people.
Through peer learning, shared expertise and direct engagement with the communities they serve, task force members will examine the scope of the challenge, elevate promising county approaches and develop insights that county leaders across the country can act on.
The task force will convene from October 2026 through July 2027, with in-person convenings in Mecklenburg County, N.C. (December 2026), Washington, D.C. (February 2027) and Chatham County, Ga. (July 2027), and through virtual engagements between those sessions.
More details on the task force's scope and work plan are forthcoming.
Members
Membership for this task force was appointed by NACo President George Dunlap in September 2026.
Co-Chairs
Hon. Holly Mitchell
Supervisor, Los Angeles County, Calif.
Hon. Shannon Jones
Commissioner, Warren County, Ohio
Members
Hon. Danielle Bethell
Commissioner, Marion County, Ore.
Hon. Andrés Cano
Supervisor, Pima County, Ariz.
Hon. Jean Marie Caterina
Commissioner, Cumberland County, Maine
Hon. Lorraine Cochran Johnson
Chief Executive Officer, DeKalb County, Ga.
Hon. René Flowers
Commissioner, Pinellas County, Fla.
LaShonda McCorkle-Hart
Interim Director, Office of Housing and Community Development, Mecklenburg County, N.C.
Hon. Jani Hitchen
Councilmember, Pierce County, Wash.
Hon. Jeff Hough
Commissioner, Bannock County, Idaho
Hon. Jenn Kagiwada
Councilmember, Hawai’i County, Hawai’i
Hon. Shayne Machen
Commissioner, Manistee County, Mich.
Hon. Megan McKenna
Councilmember, Summit County, Utah
Hon. Monica Montgomery Steppe
Supervisor, San Diego County, Calif
Hon. Rena Moran
Commissioner, Ramsey County, Minn.
Hon. Jim Quattrone
Sheriff, Chautauqua County, New York
Hon. Lisa Salgat
Commissioner, Arenac County, Mich.
Hon. Lashunda Scales
Commissioner, Jefferson County, Ala.
Hon. Antoinette Wallace
Commissioner, Macomb County, Mich.
Hon. Jamila Winder
Commissioner, Montgomery County, Pa.
Hon. Micaela Wuehler
Commissioner, Lincoln County, Neb.
Hon. Tracy Zur
Commissioner, Bergen County, N.J.
Become a Friend of the Task Force
County officials, practitioners, researchers, philanthropy and community partners who are not task force members are invited to follow the work and engage as Friends of the Task Force. Friends will receive updates on the task force's progress, have opportunities to contribute to its work and be among the first to access findings and resources.
Featured Initiative
Presidential Spotlight: Building Better Futures
The spotlight calls on counties across the country to examine what they are doing for young people, invest upstream before challenges become crises, and take at least one concrete action to improve outcomes for youth in their communities.
Featured Initiative
Youth Justice
Through technical assistance, national partnerships and member-driven initiatives, NACo’s Youth Justice programming equips county leaders with resources and peer learning opportunities to strengthen local youth justice systems.
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Supreme Court hears county climate case
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Orange County, N.C. youth justice efforts eye productive outcomes
Rather than moving them deeper into the juvenile justice system, the Youth Deflection Program “deflects” first-time offenders and youth who commit low-level, nonviolent misdemeanors toward appropriate, community-based services.
U.S. House introduces the Nonprofit Security Grant Program Funding Improvement Act to provide upfront security funds to nonprofits
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Task Force Contacts
Elise Simonsen
