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1 1 (May 3, 2016)

handle is hein.crs/govcdxw0001 and id is 1 raw text is: FF. %cc)nSWfasrES $rh& May 3, 2016 Runaway and Homeless Youth: Recent Federal Support and FY2016 Appropriations Youth under age 25 are considered to be homeless or runaways if they cannot remain in a safe environment with a relative and lack safe alternative living arrangements, or leave home while under the age of 18 without the permission of their relatives. Since the 1970s, the federal government has supported efforts to provide these youth with shelter and services. More recent federal efforts are targeted to improving access to services and ending youth homelessness. This In Focus accompanies CRS Report RL33785, Runaway and Homeless Youth: Demographics and Programs. F :,de,,rM< 5Stnak.,egy t.o En,d Youth Hwynr-,nexy @ The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), established in 1987 as part of the McKinney- Vento Homeless Assistance Act (P.L. 100-77), is made up of several federal agencies, including HHS, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the U.S. Department of Education (ED). USICH created a plan in 2010, entitled Opening Doors, which sets out four goals on ending homelessness. One of the goals is to prevent and end homelessness for families, youth, and children by 2020. In 2012, USICH amended Opening Doors to specifically address strategies for assisting homeless youth and for improving the educational outcomes for homeless children and youth. The strategies for preventing and ending youth homelessness include (1) obtaining more comprehensive information on the scope of youth homelessness; (2) building an evidence base of the most effective interventions for different subsets of youth; and (3) improving access to emergency assistance, housing, and supports for historically underserved groups of youth. In 2015, the USICH released guidance that is intended to help local communities coordinate efforts to prevent and end youth homelessness. A 2016 USICH report to Congress by USICH outlines efforts to better coordinate federal programs that assist runaway and homeless youth. Rk,,,v,aa-,.d Ho,rn e-s Youi R'ogr,,n, The Runaway and Homeless Youth program was created in 1974 under the Runaway Youth Act (P.L. 93-415). It is made up of three components-the Basic Center Program (BCP), Transitional Living Program (TLP), and Street Outreach Program (SOP). The BCP provides temporary shelter, counseling, and after care services to approximately 30,000 runaway and homeless youth under age 18 and their families each year. The TLP provides longer-term housing and supportive services annually to about 3,000 youth ages 16 through 22 (and sometimes an older age). The SOP provides street-based education and outreach to runaway, homeless, and street youth who have been subjected to, or are at risk of being subjected to, sexual abuse and exploitation. Related services authorized by the Runaway and Homeless Youth program include a phone hotline to facilitate communication between service providers, runaway youth, and their families; and technical assistance to service providers. Figure 1 includes funding for the program from FY2001 through FY2016. Figure I. Appropriations for the Runaway and Homeless Youth Program, FY200 I -FY2016 Dollars in thousands :5 l O : O O ....................................................................,,, ,,, ..... .......{{ { <'±0,000, Silo 000.............. $100 ..... . . . . . ....... S O 0 0 0 .....:..... .....: .... . ... . .: ............ ..... ....:......... ..... .... :....... . . ...N ... .. ..,.,.,.,,. ... .. .. .. Source Congressional Research Service (CRS), based on data from H HS. rogm s tpor- cmo'en HUDs Generally, funding appropriated to HUD for services to homeless individuals has not specifically targeted youth; however, such funding has been provided more recently. * Continuum of Care (CoC) Program: The CoC program is the major component of HUD's Homeless Assistance Grants, and supports longer-term housing and services for homeless individuals and families. (The Homeless Assistance Grants account is the primary source of funding at HUD targeted to assist individuals who are homeless.) Funds for the CoC program are awarded to communities. The CoC funding announcement for FY2015 is the second (after the FY2013-FY2014 announcement) to specify that local continuums may score points in their CoC application for serving youth. * Comprehensive Approach: The FY2016 appropriations law (P.L. 114-113) sets aside up to $33 million from the Homeless Assistance Grants account to implement projects that demonstrate how a <0 p\w -- , gn'a', goo mppm qq\ a , q 'S I 11LIANJILiN,

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