Homeless Youth Legislation

Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) programs help prevent exploitation of youth on the streets and support reconnection to their families, schools, employment, and housing options.

LATEST NEWS:

On February 13, the Administration released the President's Budget Proposal for fiscal year (FY) 2013. The Proposal included $115 million for Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) programs, which represents flat funding from the FY 2012 enacted level. In addition, the Proposal included $65 million for the Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program within the Department of Education. This also represents flat funding from the FY 2012 enacted level.

About RHYA Programs
The Family and Youth Services Bureau, part of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families, administers the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) programs. RHYA programs include:

  • The Basic Center Program, which provides financial assistance to meet the immediate needs of runaway and homeless youth and their families, including emergency shelter, reunification when possible, food, clothing, counseling, and facilitating access to health care;
  • The Transitional Living Program, which supports projects that provide long-term residential services to homeless youth ages 16 to 21 for up to 18 months; and
  • The Street Outreach Program, which provides funds to private and nonprofit agencies performing outreach efforts designed to move youth off the streets.

About EHCY
Congress passed the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) as part of the original McKinney-Vento legislation in 1987. The program provides formula grant to state educational agencies to ensure that children and youth experiencing homelessness have the same access to education provided to all children and youth. States and localities receive EHCY funds to review and revise any policies that may act as a barrier to attendance or success in school for children and youth experiencing homelessness. The program was reauthorized in 2002 as part of the No Child Left Behind Act. The changes require that every school district has a local liaison to ensure appropriate adherence to the laws.

Spotlight

Federal Policy Brief  |  February 29, 2012
The Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program, within the Department of Education, removes barriers to homeless students’ enrollment, attendance, and success in elementary and secondary education. It provides core protections for school stability and immediate enrollment.
Federal Policy Brief  |  February 15, 2012
Congress could offer necessary, crisis services for homeless youth by appropriating $127 million in fiscal year (FY) 2013 for the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) programs.

Library Resources

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Federal Policy Brief  |  April 19, 2012
As many as 20 percent of the runaway and homeless youth population identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning (LGBTQ). This suggests as many as 80,000 LGBTQ youth are homeless for over a week each year. These young people face particular difficulties. Ending homelessness for LGBTQ youth will require specific policies to address those difficulties.
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Federal Policy Brief  |  March 14, 2012
National RHYA Program Utilization and Program Outcomes
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Advocacy Resource  |  September 9, 2011
The National Alliance to End Homelessness recommends that Congress appropriate a small amount of funding to carry out Congress’s requirement of a study of homelessness among youth. This study would contribute to the effectiveness and efficiency of bipartisan efforts to protect these uniquely vulnerable young people.
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Advocacy Resource  |  September 1, 2011
This document contains various charts showing Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) utilization, statistics, and efficiency.
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Webinar  |  May 2, 2011
On Monday, May 2, the Alliance hosted a webinar to launch the fiscal year (FY) 2012 campaign to increase funding for the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act Programs.
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Advocacy Letters  |  December 9, 2009
The Alliance recently signed a letter to the Director of the Office on Management and Budget (OMB) urging a $35 million increase in funding to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Transitional Living Program (TLP) for the President’s proposed FY 2011 budget. This increased federal appropriation would expand housing options to 3,000 new youth annually.