[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 20, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1834-S1835]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS YOUTH AND TRAFFICKING PREVENTION ACT
Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, this week I joined my colleague, the
senior Senator from Vermont, Mr. Leahy, in introducing the Runaway and
Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act. This bill would update
and reauthorize the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act programs, which have
provided lifesaving services and housing for America's homeless youth
for more than 40 years.
Homelessness is affecting youth in unprecedented numbers. According
to a recent study by Voices of Youth Count, an initiative of Chapin
Hall at the University of Chicago, approximately 4.2 million young
people experience homelessness in the United States each year. Some of
these youth may stay away from home for only 1 or 2 nights, and others
have been living on the streets for years. Approximately 73 percent
experienced a homelessness episode lasting more than 1 month. The study
also found that homelessness is as prevalent in rural communities as it
is in urban communities.
The Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act would
reauthorize and strengthen the programs that help homeless youth meet
their immediate needs, and secure long-term residential services for
those who, sadly, cannot be safely reunified with family. Three
programs--the Basic Center Program, Transitional Living Program, and
Street Outreach Program--help community-based organizations reach these
young people when they need the most support. These programs help
runaway and homeless youth avoid the juvenile justice system, and early
intervention helps these young people escape victimization.
As chairman of the Senate Housing Appropriations Subcommittee,
working to end the scourge of homelessness--in both youth and adults--
has been one of my top priorities. According to the National Alliance
to End Homelessness, there has been a 27-percent drop in chronic
homelessness since 2007. We must build on this success so that homeless
youth have opportunities to succeed just as other youth. This bill is
an important step in that direction.
The RHYA programs have produced powerful success stories. In 2015,
the Housing Appropriations subcommittee held a hearing during which
Brittany Dixon, a former homeless youth from Auburn, ME, testified
about her personal experience as a homeless youth. After becoming
homeless at age 18, she connected with New Beginnings, a service
provider in Lewiston, ME, where
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she received the help and support she needed to develop critical life
skills and become self-sufficient. She went on to earn a college degree
and obtain a full-time job as an education technician at an elementary
school.
New Beginnings has used RHYA resources to connect with youth who need
food, a safe place to sleep, health services, and education support.
More than 135 young people were served at its 24-hour youth shelter in
2016, where they gained the support to return home safely, find
independent living options, and deal with trauma, substance abuse, and
mental health challenges. The Street Outreach Program, which would be
reauthorized by our legislation, allows New Beginnings to operate an
outreach drop-in center that reaches more than 500 youth annually.
Staff at Preble Street, a youth shelter in Portland, leveraged a
grant from the Transitional Living Program, also reauthorized by our
bill, to support First Place, a program that helps young people break
out of homelessness and plan for independent living. They work with
local landlords to secure affordable apartments for youth who cannot
safely reunite with their families and help them develop the life
skills they will need to achieve their goals.
For more than 25 years, Shaw House, in Bangor, has served Maine youth
living in five rural counties. The Basic Center Program, BCP,
reauthorized in our bill, helps Shaw House offer food, clothing, and
other basic needs assistance, with the goal of increasing family
reunification and reducing youth homelessness across Maine. In fiscal
year 2014, 94 percent of the minors who entered BCP exited these
programs safely and appropriately, and 69 percent were reunited with
their families. One of the improvements in our bill would allow BCP
grantees to serve youth for up to 30 days, instead of the current 21
days.
Teens run away and become homeless for many reasons. They are also at
high risk of victimization, abuse, criminal activity, and death. The
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children estimates that, in
2017, 1 in 7 of nearly 25,000 youth reported to them as runaways were
sex-trafficking victims. In Maine, recent reports show that, of the
more than 10,000 reported human-trafficking cases last year, 26 percent
involved minors. Several hundreds of these victims identified as
runaway or homeless youth. This population is at greater risk of
suicide, unintended pregnancy, and substance abuse. Many are unable to
continue with school and are more likely to enter our juvenile justice
system.
Our bill focuses on this tragic problem by supporting trauma-
informed, wraparound services for victims of trafficking and sexual
exploitation. Congress has passed legislation in recent years to combat
these horrific crimes and support survivors, and the policies and tools
included in the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention
Act are important pieces of the Federal response to human trafficking.
Homeless young people need access to safe beds at night and
oftentimes services during the day. A growing number of homeless youth
identify as LGBT. According to the Voices of Youth Count report, LGBT
young people are twice as likely to be homeless. Our bill would ensure
that those seeking services through these Federal programs are not
denied assistance based on their race, color, religion, national
origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.
The Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act will
support those young people who run away, are thrown out, or are
disconnected from families. A caring and safe place to sleep, eat,
grow, and develop is critical for all young people, and the programs
reauthorized through this legislation help extend those basic services
to the most vulnerable youth in our communities.
I thank Senator Leahy for his leadership on this bill and urge my
colleagues to support it.
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