Runaway and Homeless Youth Act Introduced

U.S. Representatives Judy Biggert (R-IL-13) and John Yarmuth (D-KY-03) introduced the Reconnecting Homeless Youth Act (H.R. 5524) which authorizes programs and funding for disconnected youth. The current law is set to expire in September. The National Network for Youth (NN4Y), a non-profit organization committed to ensuring that opportunities for development are available to youth, championed this bill. NN4Y member organizations across the country rely on this funding to serve the 1.7 million youth under 17 who experience runaway or homeless situations each year. These organizations include community-based organizations, regional and state networks of youth workers and street-based services, shelters, transitional living programs, counseling, and health, educational and job-related services.

"We simply cannot do the work necessary to help these youth without this support," says Victoria Wagner, CEO of NN4Y. "Each day, our member organizations reach out to youth in need to help them create real opportunities--this legislation is critical to creating futures for so many."

The bill increases funding levels for outreach, shelter and transitional housing. It also increases the minimum grant States may receive from the Basic Center Program, which provides emergency shelter and family reunification services. It allows homeless youth in short-term and longer-term transitional housing to extend their stays. These programs have a significant impact in our communities. Agencies in every state receive RHYA funds. During fiscal year 2007, RHYA programs served over 740,000 disconnected youth.

Just a few who benefited from RHYA programs:

• Rusty from Kentucky: "I had no family and no home and at this point, no future. When I got to the shelter the staff welcomed me. I felt safe for the first time in many years." Rusty testified before congress in July 2007, on behalf of NN4Y member organization Safe Place.
• Zir left home when she was 15 to escape a home environment in which her mother was emotionally and physically abusive. NN4Y member organization YouthCare (Seattle) helped her get off the streets. If not for them, she would still be out on the streets. Her long-term plan is to go to college and study sociology. "I want to help people the way they've helped me."
• Faith felt her life had no purpose or meaning. She wasn't in school, didn't have a job or a pillow to rest her head on. With the support of NN4Y member organization Sasha Bruce Youthwork in D.C., she graduated from high school with a 4.0 GPA and is now employed at Howard University and enrolling in classes to study Computer Engineering.

Millions of homeless youth across the country rely on these programs each day. Every young person deserves a place to call home.