44
What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD Amy Louttit, JD Executive Director Public Policy Associate National Network for Youth www.nn4youth.org

What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 1: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now

NAEHCY 27th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am

Darla Bardine, JD Amy Louttit, JD Executive Director Public Policy Associate

National Network for Youth www.nn4youth.org

Page 2: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

National Network for Youth (NN4Y)

• Collaboration- Connection to other providers and information about innovative and promising community practices

• Knowledge- provide timely and relevant information to increase capacity of communities to serve youth and families

• Solutions- craft solutions to address issues identified• Education- educate federal policy makers and provide

federal policy information to providers

NN4Y envisions a world where vulnerable youth have a safety net everywhere they turn—creating positive and

strong communities one youth at a time.

Page 3: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

• What Works to End Youth Homelessness– Youth Are Unique– Youth-Centric Service Continuum– Outcomes to Measure Success– Necessary Components– Community Planning– Recommendations

• Federal Policy Updates & Action Needed• Partner with NN4Y

SUMMARY

Page 4: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

Contributing Factors

Youth Fall Through the

Cracks of These Systems

Youth Experience

Homelessness

Family Conflict

Behavioral Disorders

Out of Home

PlacementPhysical and/or Sexual Abuse

Violence

Substance Use

and/or Mental Illness

Family Rejection

Economic Reasons

PATHWAYS TO HOMELESSNESS FOR YOUTH

Page 5: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

• Youth are still developing• Enter homelessness with little to no work

experience• Often forced to leave their education prior to

completion• Experience high levels of victimization• Often enter homelessness without life skills• Usually are negotiating ongoing complicated

relationships with their family

YOUTH ARE UNIQUE

Page 6: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

• Youth and families are able to access what they need when they need it.

OVERALL GOAL

Page 7: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

• Family reconnection services when safe and appropriate

• Housing (length of time will vary)• Youth-focused services• Education- including K-12 and access to higher

education• Workforce entry programs & job search help• Health care: mental, physical, behavioral• Permanent (re)connections to caring adults

WHAT YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS NEED

Page 8: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

I am not a childI am not an adult

Housing

ServicesEducation (K-12,

higher ed)Linkages Between Systems

Workforce Development

Staff of Programs

Targeted to Youth

Income

Food

YOUTH-CENTRIC SERVICE CONTINUUM

Health

Page 9: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

Prevention

YOUTH-CENTRIC SERVICE CONTINUUM

Crisis & Early Intervention

Longer-term Housing with

Support Services

Page 10: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

• Need investment from federal, state, local governments and private

• Youth-centric system to:– Prevent homelessness – Decrease reoccurrence of homelessness episodes– Provide youth-appropriate housing and services

• Youth-Centric system should be:– Responsive to the unique needs of youth– Allow flexibility among “parts” of the system– Expect some youth to exit and re-enter multiple times

YOUTH-CENTRIC SERVICE CONTINUUM

Page 11: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

A. Prevention to connect youth and families to services before a youth runs away or is ejected from their home

B. Prevent youth from exiting systems to homelessness

PREVENTION

Page 12: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

Drivers of Youth Homelessness

Systems Failures

• Child Welfare• Juvenile

Justice/Criminal Justice

• Mental Health• Family

Homelessness

Family and Youth Crisis• Violence:

o Communityo Inter-familial o Inter-personal

• Childhood Sexual Abuse

• Familial rejection• Criminal Justice

Involvement• Trauma & Toxic

Stress

Societal Structures• Poverty• Racism• Homophobia• Discrimination• Violence

Page 13: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

Societal Responses

Reduce Poverty

Reduce Racism

Increase Acceptance

of LGBT

Decrease Discrimination

FYSB RHY Programs

Reduce Family Violence

Page 14: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

Societal Responses System Reform

Juvenile/Criminal Justice

Physical & Mental

Health

Child Welfare

Family Homelessness

Reduce Poverty

Reduce Racism

Increase Acceptance

of LGBT

Decrease Discrimination

FYSB RHY Programs

Reduce Family Violence

Page 15: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

Societal Responses System Reform Family Interventions

Juvenile/Criminal Justice

Physical, Mental,

Behavioral Health

Child Welfare

Family Support Services

Behavioral & Mental

Health Care

Community-based

support

Child Abuse Prevention

School-based

support

Family Homelessness

Reduce Poverty

Reduce Racism

Increase Acceptance

of LGBT

Decrease Discrimination

FYSB RHY Programs

Reduce Family Violence

Page 16: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

Societal Responses System ReformFamily Interventions

Juvenile/Criminal Justice

Mental Health

Child Welfare

Reduce Poverty Reduce

Racism

Increase Acceptance

of LGBT

Family Support Services

Behavioral & Mental

Health Care

Community-based

support

Child Abuse Prevention

School-based

support

Decrease Discrimination

I am not a childI am not an adultFamily

Homelessness

Page 17: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

A. Outreach to connect youth to services before experience homelessness and after a youth is homeless (school personnel are key “first-responders”)

B. Drop-in centers to engage youth and link to community resources

C. Shelter provides an important first step off the street

D. Family engagement and reunification

EARLY & CRISIS INTERVENTION

Page 18: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

A. Youth-appropriate housing programs to build independent living skills

B. Case management to improve wellness & decision-making

C. (Re-) connection to education, including higher education, to increase future income earning capability

D. Workforce development to enable youth to compete in the job market

HOUSING & SUPPORT SERVICES

Page 19: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

This system response should be:A. Culturally competent B. Trauma-informedC. Utilize positive youth developmentD. Take into account the unique needs of LGBT,

trafficked and systems-involved young people

SERVICE FAMEWORKS

Page 20: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD
Page 21: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

A. Stable HousingB. Permanent Connections to Caring and

Supportive Adults C. Education, Training and EmploymentD. Health and Social-Emotional Well-Being

OUTCOMES OF YOUTH-CENTRIC CONTINUUM

Page 22: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

• Needs-based investment in youth-targeted services and housing

• Access to programs for youth when they need it- requires eliminating existing barriers

• Local leadership and strategic planning• Collaboration across agencies so that each

system and program does their part to address the distinct needs of youth and young adults

NECESSARY COMPONENTS TO CREATE YOUTH-CENTRIC

SYSTEM

Page 23: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

1. Convene a Community-Wide Working Group2. Conduct a Community Needs Assessment3. Create a Measureable Plan:

– Define Community Goals– Establish Outcomes at Multiple Levels (individual, sector,

program, community and societal)– Create Time-limited Benchmarks – Recommendations and Strategies to Increase Federal, State,

Local, Philanthropic, and Corporate Investments and Partnerships

4. Update Plan, Making Adjustments Based on Progress Made and Lessons Learned

CREATE A COMMUNITY PLAN TO END YOUTH HOMELENSSNESS AND

TRACK SUCCESS

Page 24: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

• Prioritize, align, and increase investment in:– Prevention and early intervention– Housing and services that are youth-centric– Education and workforce development– Continued research, development of

assessment tools, analysis of existing data, and improve data collection

RECOMMENDED INVESTMENTS

Page 25: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

Download the full report and other publications on our website: www.nn4youth.org/policy-advocacy/fact-sheet-and-issue-brief

DOWNLOAD WHAT WORKS PUBLICATION

Page 26: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

The Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act, S262/HR1779

• The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act “expired” in 2013 so it needs to be reauthorized- updated and pass through both houses of U.S. Congress

• S. 262 introduced in Senate on January 27, 2015 by Senators Leahy (D-VT), Collins (R-ME), Ayotte (R-NH), Booker (D-NJ)– Current has 3 Republican Cosponsors and 30

Democratic Cosponsor• H.R. 1779 introduced April 15, 2015 by Representative’s

Reichert (R-WA) and Yarmuth (D-KY)

Page 27: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

The Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act, S262/HR1779

Makes updates to Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) programs:• Includes new provisions to combat trafficking and

discrimination• Increases the length of stays in Basic Centers from 21 to

30 days.• Requires RHYA grantees to assist youth with completing

the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)• SENATE BILL ONLY: Maintains funding for programs at

$165 million & adds $2 million for the National Prevalence Study

Page 28: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

The Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act (RHYTPA):

Action Steps1. Sign Org. Letter of Support: tinyurl.com/RHYA20152. Invite House/Senate Representatives to visit your program.

HOUSE3. Call your U.S. Representative and ask them to cosponsor

H.R. 1779 4. Send an email to your U.S. Representatives by putting in

your zip code: bit.ly/RHYNeedHousing

SENATE5. Call your U.S. Senators and ask them to cosponsor S. 2626. Send an email to your Senators by putting

in your zip code: tinyurl.com/passRHYTPA

Page 29: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

The Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act (RHYTPA):

Action Steps7. In April, we had a vote on RHYTPA that received a majority

of votes, but was 4 short of the 60 votes required. All Democrats and Independents voted for RHYTPA and these 10 Republicans:• Collins (ME) (cosponsor)• Ayotte (NH) (cosponsor)• Murkowski (AK) (cosponsor)• Sullivan (AK)• Toomey (PA)

8. We need four more “Yes” votes & are pushing for another Senate vote opportunity this Fall

• Paul (KY)• Portman (OH)• Kirk (IL)• Heller (NV)• Capito (WV)

Page 30: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

FY2016 Appropriations StatusSENATE

Labor, Health and Human Services and Related Agencies• RHYA: $113 million + $2 million for national study• EHCY: $65 million

Transportation, Housing and Urban Development• $40 million to youth homelessness strategies• Report language• $100 million increase in HUD CoC• $20 million for FUP vouchers

HOUSELabor, Health and Human Services and Related Agencies• RHYA: $114 million• EHCY: $65 million

Page 31: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

FY2016 Appropriations: Action StepsSENATE & HOUSE

1. Call your US Representatives at (202) 224-31212. Email you US Representatives

ASK FOR:Labor, Health and Human Services and Related Agencies– RHYA: $165 million– EHCY: $115 million

Transportation, Housing and Urban Development– $40 million to youth homelessness strategies– $300 million for CoCs– Report language

Page 32: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

2015 Bi-Partisan Legislation:The Homeless Children and Youth Act

H.R. 576/S. 256• Introduced in the US Senate by Senators Dianne

Feinstein (D-CA) and Robert Portman (R-OH)• Introduced in the US House by U.S. Representatives

Steve Stivers (R-15th/OH) and Dave Loebsack (D-2nd/IA)

• Supported by 425 organizations, including 59 national organizations

A Couch is Not a Home & #WhyISupportHCYA

Page 33: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

The Homeless Children and Youth Act (HCYA): What Does it Do?

• Amends HUD’s definition of homelessness to include children and youth verified as homeless by school liaisons, RHYA programs, Head Start, Health Care for the Homeless programs, etc.

• Prohibits HUD from prioritizing one group over another; communities would be guided by local needs assessments

• Requires data from all federal homeless programs to be part of HUD’s Report to Congress

Page 34: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

What Does The Homeless Children and Youth Act (HCYA) NOT Do?

• Does not contain expensive new studies or data collection

• Does not take away funding and services from other, “less needy” homeless populations

• Does not create “flood the system” and overwhelm existing resources

Page 35: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

The Homeless Children and Youth Act (HCYA): Action Steps

• Co-sponsors are needed in Senate and House – doesn’t matter from which states

• Set up meetings to discuss the issues• Take Action Letters and Organizational

Endorsements – www.helphomelesskidsnow.org• Youth/families stories – www.invisiblepeople.tv• A Couch is Not a Home Campaign -

www.nn4youth.org/policy-advocacy/hcya

Page 36: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

NN4Y Policy Advocacy Resources

• Take Action Center on our website with up-to-date information– Fact Sheets – Policy Briefs

• Webinars and archived webinars for members• Advocacy Toolkits• Best Practices & Community Planning

Publications• Resource Center on our website:

www.nn4youth.org/learn/resources

Page 37: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

www.nn4youth.org/policy-advocacy

NN

4Y F

EDER

AL P

OLI

CY

CAM

PAIG

NS

Page 38: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

Model Runaway and Homeless Youth Law for State & Local Advocacy

• How to Pass a RHY Law• Model Legislation• Appendix of Existing State

RHY Law• Download at:

www.nn4youth.org/learn/resources

Page 39: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

• State Definitions of Homelessness and Homeless Youth

• Analysis of Definitions• Summary of Findings• Model Definition• Download at:

www.nn4youth.org/learn/resources

Who is Homeless? Different Definitions of Homelessness by State

Page 40: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

1. Allow youth to stay in their residence hall.

2. Open international student housing for homeless and foster youth.

3. Use Student Support Services dollars for housing during breaks.

4. Create a website where youth can confidentially disclose their status and what services they need.

5. Designate a Single Point of Contact (SPOC)

on Campus.

Page 41: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

“Ten people who speak make more noise than ten thousand who are silent”

Page 42: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

Why Get Involved in Policy Advocacy?

• Good policies are informed policies• No one else knows what you know - no one else

is likely to take up these issues• Children and youth experiencing homelessness

are invisible to the public and to policymakers• As a constituent, you have the most power to

effect change • National organizations have limited impact

without engaged memberships

Page 43: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

Partner with NN4Y. Become a member.• Membership connects you with providers from across the

country.• You receive insider federal policy information.• Opportunity to shape NN4Y policy recommendations and

agendas by participating in members only discussions about legislative policy and administrative regulations and administration decisions.

• Opportunity to participate in Policy Advisory Committee (PAC), nominate youth to our National Youth Advisory Council (NYAC), and discount to our National Summit on Youth Homelessness in Washington, DC

www.nn4youth.org/membership

Page 44: What Works to End Youth Homelessness: What We Know Now NAEHCY 27 th Annual Conference- 2015 Sunday, November 15 from 10:00 – 11:15 am Darla Bardine, JD

Thank You

Darla Bardine, JD Amy Louttit, JD Executive Director Public Policy Associate

National Network for Youth www.nn4youth.org