SCR 128, as introduced, Liu. California Runaway and Homeless Youth Month.
This measure would designate the month of November 2014 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.
P1 1WHEREAS, Runaway and homeless youth are young people
2between 12 and 24 years of age who have the least access to
3essential opportunities and supports; and
4WHEREAS, The prevalence of runaways and homelessness
5among youth is staggering, with studies suggesting that nationally
6between 1.6 and 1.8 million youth up to 24 years of age experience
7homelessness every year, of which a disproportionate number are
8gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender; and
9WHEREAS, Based on national surveys and California’s youth
10population, an estimated 200,000 youth under 18 years of age, and
11thousands more who are 18 to 24 years of age, are homeless for
12one or more days each year; and
P2 1WHEREAS, The State Department of Education has indicated
2in a recent report required by the federal McKinney-Vento
3Homeless Assistance Act that during the 2012-13 school year, a
4total of 259,656 youth, including unaccompanied youth and youth
5with their families who lack stable housing, in kindergarten and
6grades 1 to 12, inclusive, experienced homelessness at least one
7day out of the year, which is an increase of 18 percent over the
8previous academic year; and
9WHEREAS, An overwhelming majority of runaway and
10homeless youth have been expelled from their homes by their
11families; physically, sexually, and emotionally abused at home;
12discharged from foster care and other state custodial systems
13without adequate transition plans; separated from their parents by
14death or divorce; too poor to secure their own basic needs; and
15ineligible or unable to access adequate medical or mental health
16resources; and
17WHEREAS, Runaway and homeless youth who live on the
18street are victims of physical abuse, sexual exploitation, and crime
19in untold numbers; and
20WHEREAS, These youths are on the street because they feel
21there are no other options open to them; and
22WHEREAS, Youths who “age out” of the foster care system
23are at an increased risk of homelessness, and represent an estimated
2420 percent of the 20,000 youth who leave foster care and are
25currently homeless; and
26WHEREAS, Providing safe, stable, and permanent housing for
27runaway and homeless youth is a family, community, state, and
28national priority; and
29WHEREAS, The future well-being of our state depends on the
30value we place on our youth, and, in particular, on our actions to
31provide the most vulnerable young people in the state with
32opportunities to acquire the knowledge, skills, and abilities they
33need to find and maintain stable housing and develop into healthy
34and productive adults; and
35WHEREAS, The number of effective programs providing
36services and support to runaway and homeless youth in California
37is a fraction of what is needed to fully address the needs of these
38young people, as only 20 of California’s 58 counties have programs
39for runaway and homeless youth; and
P3 1WHEREAS, The California Coalition for Youth has operated
2the California Youth Crisis Line (1-800-843-5200), 24 hours a
3day, seven days a week, for over 25 years as the state’s only
4emergency response system for youth in crisis; and
5WHEREAS, November is National Runaway and Homeless
6Youth Awareness Month; and
7WHEREAS, The California Coalition for Youth, along with
8other community-based organizations, providers, and advocates,
9is sponsoring the fourth annual California Runaway and Homeless
10Youth Month to increase awareness and action on behalf of youth
11who are at risk or currently living on the street; and
12WHEREAS, Awareness of the tragedy of youth homelessness
13and its causes must be heightened to ensure greater support for
14effective programs aimed at preventing homelessness and helping
15youth remain off the streets; now, therefore, be it
16Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
17thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes the need for
18individuals, schools, communities, businesses, local governments,
19and the state to take action on behalf of runaway and homeless
20youth in California; and be it further
21Resolved, That the Legislature hereby designates the month of
22November 2014 as California Runaway and Homeless Youth
23Month; and be it further
24Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of
25this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
O
99