Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 29

Introduced by Senator Liu

April 1, 2013

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 29—Relative to California Runaway and Homeless Youth Month.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SCR 29, as introduced, Liu. California Runaway and Homeless Youth Month.

This measure would designate the month of November 2013 as California Runaway and Homeless Youth Month and would recognize the need for individuals, schools, communities, businesses, local governments, and the state to take action on behalf of runaway and homeless youth in California.

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, Runaway and homeless youth are young people
between 12 and 24 years of age who have the least access to
essential opportunities and supports; and

WHEREAS, The prevalence of runaways and homelessness
among youth is staggering, with studies suggesting that nationally
between 1.6 and 1.8 million youth up to 24 years of age experience
homelessness every year; and

WHEREAS, Based on national surveys and California’s youth
population, an estimated 200,000 youth under 18 years of age, and
thousands more who are 18 to 24 years of age, are homeless for
one or more days each year; and

WHEREAS, An overwhelming majority of runaway and
homeless youth have been expelled from their homes by their
families; physically, sexually, and emotionally abused at home;
discharged from foster care and other state custodial systems
without adequate transition plans; separated from their parents by
death or divorce; too poor to secure their own basic needs; and
ineligible or unable to access adequate medical or mental health
resources; and

WHEREAS, Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT)
youth make up a disproportionate share of the homeless youth
population, with estimates suggesting that LGBT youth
compromise over 40 percent of the homeless youth population
despite compromising only 10 percent of the general youth
population; and

WHEREAS, Runaway and homeless youth who live on the
street are victims of physical abuse, sexual exploitation, and crime
in untold numbers; and

WHEREAS, These youths are on the street because they feel
there are no other options open to them; and

WHEREAS, Youths who “age out” of the foster care system
are at an increased risk of homelessness, and represent an estimated
20 percent of the 20,000 youth who leave foster care and are
currently homeless; and

WHEREAS, Providing safe, stable, and permanent housing for
runaway and homeless youth is a family, community, state, and
national priority; and

WHEREAS, The future well-being of our state depends on the
value we place on our youth, and, in particular, on our actions to
provide the most vulnerable young people in the state with
opportunities to acquire the knowledge, skills, and abilities they
need to find and maintain stable housing and develop into healthy
and productive adults; and

WHEREAS, The number of effective programs providing
services and support to runaway and homeless youth in California
is a fraction of what is needed to fully address the needs of these
young people; and

WHEREAS, The California Coalition for Youth has operated
the California Youth Crisis Line (1-800-843-5200), 24 hours a
day, seven days a week, for over 25 years as the state’s only
emergency response system for youth in crisis; and

WHEREAS, November is National Runaway and Homeless
Youth Awareness Month; and

WHEREAS, The California Coalition for Youth, along with
other community-based organizations, providers, and advocates,
is sponsoring the third annual California Runaway and Homeless
Youth Month to increase awareness and action on behalf of youth
who are at risk or currently living on the street; and

WHEREAS, Awareness of the tragedy of youth homelessness
and its causes must be heightened to ensure greater support for
effective programs aimed at preventing homelessness and helping
youth remain off the streets; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes the need for
individuals, schools, communities, businesses, local governments,
and the state to take action on behalf of runaway and homeless
youth in California; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature hereby designates the month of
November 2013 as California Runaway and Homeless Youth
Month; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.