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Transcript of What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday,...
What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now
NAEHCY 27th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am
Darla Bardine, JD Amy Louttit, JD Executive Director Public Policy Associate
National Network for Youth www.nn4youth.org
National Network for Youth (NN4Y)
• Collaboration- Connection to other providers and information about innovative and promising community practices
• Knowledge- provide timely and relevant information to increase capacity of communities to serve youth and families
• Solutions- craft solutions to address issues identified• Education- educate federal policy makers and provide
federal policy information to providers
NN4Y envisions a world where vulnerable youth have a safety net everywhere they turn—creating positive and
strong communities one youth at a time.
• What Works to End Youth Homelessness– Youth Are Unique– Youth-Centric Service Continuum– Outcomes to Measure Success– Necessary Components– Community Planning– Recommendations
• Federal Policy Updates & Action Needed• Partner with NN4Y
SUMMARY
Contributing Factors
Youth Fall Through the
Cracks of These Systems
Youth Experience
Homelessness
Family Conflict
Behavioral Disorders
Out of Home
PlacementPhysical and/or Sexual Abuse
Violence
Substance Use
and/or Mental Illness
Family Rejection
Economic Reasons
PATHWAYS TO HOMELESSNESS FOR YOUTH
• Youth are still developing• Enter homelessness with little to no work
experience• Often forced to leave their education prior to
completion• Experience high levels of victimization• Often enter homelessness without life skills• Usually are negotiating ongoing complicated
relationships with their family
YOUTH ARE UNIQUE
• Youth and families are able to access what they need when they need it.
OVERALL GOAL
• Family reconnection services when safe and appropriate
• Housing (length of time will vary)• Youth-focused services• Education- including K-12 and access to higher
education• Workforce entry programs & job search help• Health care: mental, physical, behavioral• Permanent (re)connections to caring adults
WHAT YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS NEED
I am not a childI am not an adult
Housing
ServicesEducation (K-12,
higher ed)Linkages Between Systems
Workforce Development
Staff of Programs
Targeted to Youth
Income
Food
YOUTH-CENTRIC SERVICE CONTINUUM
Health
Prevention
YOUTH-CENTRIC SERVICE CONTINUUM
Crisis & Early Intervention
Longer-term Housing with
Support Services
• Need investment from federal, state, local governments and private
• Youth-centric system to:– Prevent homelessness – Decrease reoccurrence of homelessness episodes– Provide youth-appropriate housing and services
• Youth-Centric system should be:– Responsive to the unique needs of youth– Allow flexibility among “parts” of the system– Expect some youth to exit and re-enter multiple times
YOUTH-CENTRIC SERVICE CONTINUUM
A. Prevention to connect youth and families to services before a youth runs away or is ejected from their home
B. Prevent youth from exiting systems to homelessness
PREVENTION
Drivers of Youth Homelessness
Systems Failures
• Child Welfare• Juvenile
Justice/Criminal Justice
• Mental Health• Family
Homelessness
Family and Youth Crisis• Violence:
o Communityo Inter-familial o Inter-personal
• Childhood Sexual Abuse
• Familial rejection• Criminal Justice
Involvement• Trauma & Toxic
Stress
Societal Structures• Poverty• Racism• Homophobia• Discrimination• Violence
Societal Responses
Reduce Poverty
Reduce Racism
Increase Acceptance
of LGBT
Decrease Discrimination
FYSB RHY Programs
Reduce Family Violence
Societal Responses System Reform
Juvenile/Criminal Justice
Physical & Mental
Health
Child Welfare
Family Homelessness
Reduce Poverty
Reduce Racism
Increase Acceptance
of LGBT
Decrease Discrimination
FYSB RHY Programs
Reduce Family Violence
Societal Responses System Reform Family Interventions
Juvenile/Criminal Justice
Physical, Mental,
Behavioral Health
Child Welfare
Family Support Services
Behavioral & Mental
Health Care
Community-based
support
Child Abuse Prevention
School-based
support
Family Homelessness
Reduce Poverty
Reduce Racism
Increase Acceptance
of LGBT
Decrease Discrimination
FYSB RHY Programs
Reduce Family Violence
Societal Responses System ReformFamily Interventions
Juvenile/Criminal Justice
Mental Health
Child Welfare
Reduce Poverty Reduce
Racism
Increase Acceptance
of LGBT
Family Support Services
Behavioral & Mental
Health Care
Community-based
support
Child Abuse Prevention
School-based
support
Decrease Discrimination
I am not a childI am not an adultFamily
Homelessness
A. Outreach to connect youth to services before experience homelessness and after a youth is homeless (school personnel are key “first-responders”)
B. Drop-in centers to engage youth and link to community resources
C. Shelter provides an important first step off the street
D. Family engagement and reunification
EARLY & CRISIS INTERVENTION
A. Youth-appropriate housing programs to build independent living skills
B. Case management to improve wellness & decision-making
C. (Re-) connection to education, including higher education, to increase future income earning capability
D. Workforce development to enable youth to compete in the job market
HOUSING & SUPPORT SERVICES
This system response should be:A. Culturally competent B. Trauma-informedC. Utilize positive youth developmentD. Take into account the unique needs of LGBT,
trafficked and systems-involved young people
SERVICE FAMEWORKS
A. Stable HousingB. Permanent Connections to Caring and
Supportive Adults C. Education, Training and EmploymentD. Health and Social-Emotional Well-Being
OUTCOMES OF YOUTH-CENTRIC CONTINUUM
• Needs-based investment in youth-targeted services and housing
• Access to programs for youth when they need it- requires eliminating existing barriers
• Local leadership and strategic planning• Collaboration across agencies so that each
system and program does their part to address the distinct needs of youth and young adults
NECESSARY COMPONENTS TO CREATE YOUTH-CENTRIC
SYSTEM
1. Convene a Community-Wide Working Group2. Conduct a Community Needs Assessment3. Create a Measureable Plan:
– Define Community Goals– Establish Outcomes at Multiple Levels (individual, sector,
program, community and societal)– Create Time-limited Benchmarks – Recommendations and Strategies to Increase Federal, State,
Local, Philanthropic, and Corporate Investments and Partnerships
4. Update Plan, Making Adjustments Based on Progress Made and Lessons Learned
CREATE A COMMUNITY PLAN TO END YOUTH HOMELENSSNESS AND
TRACK SUCCESS
• Prioritize, align, and increase investment in:– Prevention and early intervention– Housing and services that are youth-centric– Education and workforce development– Continued research, development of
assessment tools, analysis of existing data, and improve data collection
RECOMMENDED INVESTMENTS
Download the full report and other publications on our website: www.nn4youth.org/policy-advocacy/fact-sheet-and-issue-brief
DOWNLOAD WHAT WORKS PUBLICATION
The Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act, S262/HR1779
• The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act “expired” in 2013 so it needs to be reauthorized- updated and pass through both houses of U.S. Congress
• S. 262 introduced in Senate on January 27, 2015 by Senators Leahy (D-VT), Collins (R-ME), Ayotte (R-NH), Booker (D-NJ)– Current has 3 Republican Cosponsors and 30
Democratic Cosponsor• H.R. 1779 introduced April 15, 2015 by Representative’s
Reichert (R-WA) and Yarmuth (D-KY)
The Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act, S262/HR1779
Makes updates to Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) programs:• Includes new provisions to combat trafficking and
discrimination• Increases the length of stays in Basic Centers from 21 to
30 days.• Requires RHYA grantees to assist youth with completing
the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)• SENATE BILL ONLY: Maintains funding for programs at
$165 million & adds $2 million for the National Prevalence Study
The Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act (RHYTPA):
Action Steps1. Sign Org. Letter of Support: tinyurl.com/RHYA20152. Invite House/Senate Representatives to visit your program.
HOUSE3. Call your U.S. Representative and ask them to cosponsor
H.R. 1779 4. Send an email to your U.S. Representatives by putting in
your zip code: bit.ly/RHYNeedHousing
SENATE5. Call your U.S. Senators and ask them to cosponsor S. 2626. Send an email to your Senators by putting
in your zip code: tinyurl.com/passRHYTPA
The Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act (RHYTPA):
Action Steps7. In April, we had a vote on RHYTPA that received a majority
of votes, but was 4 short of the 60 votes required. All Democrats and Independents voted for RHYTPA and these 10 Republicans:• Collins (ME) (cosponsor)• Ayotte (NH) (cosponsor)• Murkowski (AK) (cosponsor)• Sullivan (AK)• Toomey (PA)
8. We need four more “Yes” votes & are pushing for another Senate vote opportunity this Fall
• Paul (KY)• Portman (OH)• Kirk (IL)• Heller (NV)• Capito (WV)
FY2016 Appropriations StatusSENATE
Labor, Health and Human Services and Related Agencies• RHYA: $113 million + $2 million for national study• EHCY: $65 million
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development• $40 million to youth homelessness strategies• Report language• $100 million increase in HUD CoC• $20 million for FUP vouchers
HOUSELabor, Health and Human Services and Related Agencies• RHYA: $114 million• EHCY: $65 million
FY2016 Appropriations: Action StepsSENATE & HOUSE
1. Call your US Representatives at (202) 224-31212. Email you US Representatives
ASK FOR:Labor, Health and Human Services and Related Agencies– RHYA: $165 million– EHCY: $115 million
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development– $40 million to youth homelessness strategies– $300 million for CoCs– Report language
2015 Bi-Partisan Legislation:The Homeless Children and Youth Act
H.R. 576/S. 256• Introduced in the US Senate by Senators Dianne
Feinstein (D-CA) and Robert Portman (R-OH)• Introduced in the US House by U.S. Representatives
Steve Stivers (R-15th/OH) and Dave Loebsack (D-2nd/IA)
• Supported by 425 organizations, including 59 national organizations
A Couch is Not a Home & #WhyISupportHCYA
The Homeless Children and Youth Act (HCYA): What Does it Do?
• Amends HUD’s definition of homelessness to include children and youth verified as homeless by school liaisons, RHYA programs, Head Start, Health Care for the Homeless programs, etc.
• Prohibits HUD from prioritizing one group over another; communities would be guided by local needs assessments
• Requires data from all federal homeless programs to be part of HUD’s Report to Congress
What Does The Homeless Children and Youth Act (HCYA) NOT Do?
• Does not contain expensive new studies or data collection
• Does not take away funding and services from other, “less needy” homeless populations
• Does not create “flood the system” and overwhelm existing resources
The Homeless Children and Youth Act (HCYA): Action Steps
• Co-sponsors are needed in Senate and House – doesn’t matter from which states
• Set up meetings to discuss the issues• Take Action Letters and Organizational
Endorsements – www.helphomelesskidsnow.org• Youth/families stories – www.invisiblepeople.tv• A Couch is Not a Home Campaign -
www.nn4youth.org/policy-advocacy/hcya
NN4Y Policy Advocacy Resources
• Take Action Center on our website with up-to-date information– Fact Sheets – Policy Briefs
• Webinars and archived webinars for members• Advocacy Toolkits• Best Practices & Community Planning
Publications• Resource Center on our website:
www.nn4youth.org/learn/resources
www.nn4youth.org/policy-advocacy
NN
4Y F
EDER
AL P
OLI
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CAM
PAIG
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Model Runaway and Homeless Youth Law for State & Local Advocacy
• How to Pass a RHY Law• Model Legislation• Appendix of Existing State
RHY Law• Download at:
www.nn4youth.org/learn/resources
• State Definitions of Homelessness and Homeless Youth
• Analysis of Definitions• Summary of Findings• Model Definition• Download at:
www.nn4youth.org/learn/resources
Who is Homeless? Different Definitions of Homelessness by State
1. Allow youth to stay in their residence hall.
2. Open international student housing for homeless and foster youth.
3. Use Student Support Services dollars for housing during breaks.
4. Create a website where youth can confidentially disclose their status and what services they need.
5. Designate a Single Point of Contact (SPOC)
on Campus.
“Ten people who speak make more noise than ten thousand who are silent”
Why Get Involved in Policy Advocacy?
• Good policies are informed policies• No one else knows what you know - no one else
is likely to take up these issues• Children and youth experiencing homelessness
are invisible to the public and to policymakers• As a constituent, you have the most power to
effect change • National organizations have limited impact
without engaged memberships
Partner with NN4Y. Become a member.• Membership connects you with providers from across the
country.• You receive insider federal policy information.• Opportunity to shape NN4Y policy recommendations and
agendas by participating in members only discussions about legislative policy and administrative regulations and administration decisions.
• Opportunity to participate in Policy Advisory Committee (PAC), nominate youth to our National Youth Advisory Council (NYAC), and discount to our National Summit on Youth Homelessness in Washington, DC
www.nn4youth.org/membership
Thank You
Darla Bardine, JD Amy Louttit, JD Executive Director Public Policy Associate
National Network for Youth www.nn4youth.org