Reconnecting Homeless Youth Act Provisions

Runaway and Homeless Youth Act Public Policy

Update

Presentation to National Safe PlaceMarch 10, 2010

byBob Reeg

Public Policy DirectorNational Network for Youth

Presentation Outline

• Reconnecting Homeless Youth Act• FY 2011 RHYA Appropriations• Federal Strategic Plan to End

Homelessness• Contact Information: Bob Reeg,

Public Policy Director, National Network for Youth, breeg@nn4youth.org 202.265.7271

Acronym Glossary• BCP Basic Center Program• FSP Federal Strategic Plan to End Homelessness• GAO U.S. Government Accountability Office• HHS U.S. Department of Health and Human Services• P.L. Public Law• NN4Y National Network for Youth• REDS Research, Evaluation, Demonstration, Services• RHYA Runaway and Homeless Youth Act• SOP Street Outreach Program• TLP Transitional Living Program• USICHUS Interagency Council on Homelessness

Reconnecting Homeless Youth Act

Reconnecting Homeless Youth Act Fast Facts • P.L. 110-378.• Enacted October 8, 2008.• Reauthorizes and strengthens

federal RHYA programs.• Component of NN4Y’s Place to Call

Home policy blueprint.

P.L. 110-378 Provisions

• Funding.• Admission and Length of Stay

Criteria.• Applicant Eligibility, Use of Funds,

and Funding Conditions.• Federal Program Management.• National Activities.

Funding

• Reauthorizes and increases authorization levels for RHYA programs.

• RHY consolidated account at $140 million.

• RHY street outreach account at $25 million.

• Authorization period through FY 2013.

Funding

• Increases BCP minimum state allotment to $200,000 (from $100,000).

• Increases BCP minimum territory allotment to $70,000 (from $45,000).

• Permits HHS to redistribute unexpended BCP funds to BCP applicants in other states, for a one-year period.

Project Admission and Length of Stay Criteria• Limits BCPs to providing shelter

services to individuals less than 18 years of age.

• Allows TLP to serve youth up until their 22nd birthday.

• Allows extensions in length of stay in BCP to 21 days (from 15 days).

• Allows extensions in length of stay in TLP to 21 months (from 18 months).

Applicant Eligibility, Use of Funds, Funding Conditions• Adds public entities as eligible

applicants for SOP funds.• Clarifies that RHYA funds are to be

distributed to organizations, and not directly to program participants.

• Requires BCP and TLP projects to have written emergency management and crisis response plans.

Federal Program Management• Requires HHS to develop performance

standards for RHYA grantees.• Requires GAO to assess grant-making

process.• Adds a finding on positive youth

development.• Adds statutory definition of “runaway

youth.”

National Activities

• Authorizes HHS to develop a periodic national estimate of the incidence and prevalence of youth homelessness.

• Requires HHS to establish REDS priorities each two years.

National Activities

• Includes education and workforce projects as eligible REDS projects.

• Includes innovative housing projects as eligible REDS projects.

FY 2011 RHYA Appropriations

FY 2011 RHYA Appropriations Fast Facts • RHYA programs organized into two

appropriations accounts:– consolidated account (BCP, TLP,

national activities)– prevention account (SOP)

• $115 million for RHYA in FY 2010.• $ 750,000 increase over FY 2009.

FY 2011 RHYA Appropriations NN4Y Recommendation• $165 million for RHYA in FY 2011.• $50 million increase over FY 2010.• For additional information, visit

http://www.nn4youth.org/public-policy/policy-platform/rhya-appropriations.

FY 2011 RHYA Appropriations Opportunities for Action• Ask Senators and Representatives

to include RHYA in their annual program request letters to appropriators.

• Ask Representatives to add their name to a forthcoming “Dear Colleague letter on RHYA funding.

FY 2011 RHYA Appropriations Opportunities for Action• Take Action on RHYA

appropriations at the NN4Y Youth Policy Action Network.

• Visit http://www.nn4youth.org/public-policy/NCYP/youth-policy-action-network.

Federal Strategic Plan toEnd Homelessness

Federal Strategic PlanFast Facts • USICH required to develop a federal

strategic plan to end homelessness.

• Plan to be submitted to Congress by May 2010.

• USICH is organizing the strategic plan by homeless subpopulation, including homeless youth.

Federal Strategic PlanNN4Y Recommendation• FSP must detail a national strategy to

prevent and end homelessness for all Americans.

• NN4Y supports federal response to unique needs of unaccompanied homeless youth.

• NN4Y’s Place to Call Home Campaign provides a blueprint for a federal youth homelessness plan.

Federal Strategic PlanNN4Y Recommendation• NN4Y offers recommendations in

the areas of:– Prevention of youth homelessness.– Interventions for homeless youth.– National capacity-building.

• NN4Y recommendations will be posted soon at www.nn4youth.org.

Federal Strategic PlanOpportunities for Action• USICH receiving public comment on

FSP through electronic input.• Opportunity to submit a comment

OR to vote on comments submitted by others.

• Public comment period closes March 15, 2010.

Federal Strategic PlanOpportunities for Action• To submit comments or to vote on

others’ comments (including NN4Y comments), visit:

http://fsp.uservoice.com/forums/42083-how-can-we-prevent-and-

end-homelessness-for-youth-