Public Policy Update - March 10, 2009

In this Issue:

• The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Update
• Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) Update
• JJDPA Reauthorization Update
• Hill day a success!
• Other news

THE AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT UPDATE

Last month Congress passed the $789 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).  This investment includes an extremely significant increase in federal support for homelessness prevention and rehousing services, as well as funding for Workforce Investment Act (WIA) training and employment services.  The National Alliance to End Homelessness and the National Network for Youth have put together an outline of potential funding in ARRA for homeless youth crisis services, outreach, shelter and housing services.  Here are a few highlights:

Homeless Assistance Grants: $1.5 billion for the Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) program to provide short-term rental assistance, housing relocation, and stabilization services for families and individuals during the economic crisis.  HUD will be issuing ESG regulations soon.  RHY providers should be prepared to attempt to be influential regarding this program.  We recommend you find out who your ESG contact is in your locality. 

Community Services Block Grant: $1 billion for grants to local communities to support employment, food, housing, and healthcare efforts serving those hardest hit by the recession.

Emergency Food and Shelter: $100 million to help local community organizations provide food, shelter, and support services to the nation's hungry, homeless, and people in economic crisis.  This will include one-month utility payments to prevent service cut-off and one-month rent or mortgage assistance to prevent evictions or help people leave shelters.  Funds are distributed by formula based on unemployment and poverty rates by FEMA.

Education for Homeless Children and Youth: $70 million to support the identification, enrollment, attendance, and school success of youth experiencing homelessness.  The U.S. Department of Education must provide funding to States within 60 days of enactment, and States must provide funding to school districts within 120 days of receipt of funding.

Workforce Investment Act Youth Grants: $1.2 billion to provide funding for youth training and employment activities, including summer employment, occupational skills, counseling, mentoring, supportive services, etc.  All indicators have been waived except work readiness.  RHY providers will have to provide other cash or in-kind resources to qualify for funding.

RUNAWAY AND HOMELESS YOUTH ACT (RHYA) UPDATE

RHYA appropriations for FY 2010 will be considered by the appropriations subcommittees, where key decisions are made, in the next few months.  The Network is looking to raise the level to $165 million.  The Network is advocating for the following appropriations levels:

·         $140 million for the consolidated runaway and homeless youth account (Basic Center Program emergency shelter, and TLPs and Maternity Group Homes).

·         $25 million for the runaway prevention account (Street Outreach).

The Network recommends you contact your Senators and Representatives about this.  For more info about the RHYA click here.

JJDPA REAUTHORIZATION UPDATE

The Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) will be introduced in the Senate soon.  The Network will continue to be a leader in eliminating the valid court ordered exclusion for confinement & secure detention of status offenders.  Last year the Senate Judiciary Committee marked up and passed S. 3155, the 2008 reauthorization of JJDPA.  During the mark-up, S. 3155 was further strengthened to phase out use of the valid court order over a three-year period, with an indefinite number of hardship extensions for those states that need additional time to make changes.  Your Network is working to bring finality to the elimination of the Valid Court Order provision.  Your Network strongly believes that the number of days that a juvenile can be held in secure detention or confinement during the phase-out period for the valid court order should be minimal.  Some states have passed statutes that limit such a condition to three “working days” or 72 hours.

The Network continues to be an active member of ACT 4 Juvenile Justice Coalition and is working with the Coalition for these changes.  For more info about JJDPA click here.  For a list of the Senate Judiciary Committee members in charge of JJDPA reauthorization click here.

HILL DAY A SUCCESS!

The Network has consolidated the results of your January Hill visits.  We will be reaching out to you about contacting your members of Congress about the issues of import to you.  For more information contact Terry Modglin at tmodglin@nn4youth.org.

OTHER NEWS…

The Unfolding Increase in Child & Youth Homelessness

Largely due to the economic and housing crises, many school districts across the country are reporting increases in the number of homeless students.  This new report centers around a voluntary survey conducted during the fall of 2008 by the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth and First Focus.  Click here to read the full report.  Also check out the Washington Post article Schools Face Sharp Rise in Homeless Students.

House Passes Bill to Stop Child Abuse in Teen Residential Programs On February 24th the House of Representatives passed the Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act (H.R. 911).  The legislation would provide much-needed oversight of programs and facilities that have operated without adequate state or federal regulation.  The bill would protect teenagers attending residential treatment programs from physical, mental, and sexual abuse, and it would increase transparency to help parents make safe choices for their children.  To read more about the bill click here.

One in 50 U.S. Children are Homeless

The National Center on Family Homelessness issued a report March 10th on the status of homeless children in America.  The report, which ranks each of the 50 states on the basis of the status, conditions, and policies affecting homeless children, estimates that 1 in 50 US children are homeless.  Of these, 75% are concentrated in 11 states.  The report can be accessed at www.familyhomelessness.org.