[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 693 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 693

  Recognizing the month of November 2008 as ``National Homeless Youth 
                           Awareness Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

           September 27 (legislative day, September 17), 2008

Mr. Lautenberg (for himself, Mr. Martinez, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Levin, Mr. 
 Brown, Mr. Salazar, Mr. Obama, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Casey, and Mr. Bayh) 
 submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Recognizing the month of November 2008 as ``National Homeless Youth 
                           Awareness Month''.

Whereas between 1,600,000 and 2,800,000 children and teens are homeless in the 
        United States each year, with many staying on the streets or in 
        emergency shelters;
Whereas families with children are the fastest growing segment of the homeless 
        population and now make up approximately \1/3\ of that population;
Whereas many homeless youth experience isolation and trauma while residing on 
        the streets or in precarious housing situations and may eventually 
        develop depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder;
Whereas homeless youth are typically too poor to secure basic needs and are 
        unable to access adequate medical or mental health care;
Whereas many youth become homeless due to a lack of financial and housing 
        resources as they exit juvenile corrections and foster care;
Whereas 12 to 36 percent of foster youth experience homelessness at least once 
        after exiting foster care;
Whereas homeless youth are most often expelled from their homes by their 
        guardians after physical, sexual, or emotional abuse or separated from 
        their parents through death or divorce without adequate resources; and
Whereas awareness of the tragedy of youth homelessness and its causes must be 
        heightened so that greater support for effective programs involving 
        businesses, families, law enforcement agencies, schools, and community 
        and faith-based organizations, aimed at helping youth remain off the 
        streets becomes a national priority: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the values and efforts of businesses, 
        organizations, and volunteers dedicated to meeting the needs of 
        homeless children and teens;
            (2) applauds the initiatives of businesses, organizations, 
        and volunteers that employ time and resources to build 
        awareness of the homeless youth problem, its causes, and 
        potential solutions, and work to prevent homelessness among 
        children and teens; and
            (3) should recognize the month of November 2008 as 
        ``National Homeless Youth Awareness Month'' and encourages 
        these businesses, organizations, and volunteers to continue to 
        intensify their efforts during the month of November.
                                 <all>