Sen. Tom Colburn vs. homeless youth

[cmoreno]

Please take a minute to call Senator Tom Coburn and urge him to adopt Senator Leahy's proposal to reauthorize the Reconnecting Homeless Youth Act and lift the hold before the law expires.

The Reconnecting Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) provides funding to programs across the country that help homeless youth. Programs include shelters, transitional living services, Safe Place, and more. If RHYA is not renewed, local efforts to help homeless adolescents will also be in jeopardy.

Background: The authorization period for RHYA and the bill itself expires September 30, 2008.

On March 4, Representatives John Yarmuth (D-KY) and Judy Biggert (R-IL) introduced H.R. 5524, the Reconnecting Homeless Youth Act of 2008.

Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) introduced S. 2982, the Runaway and Homeless Youth Protection Act of 2008 on May 6, shortly after a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on RHYA, where the National Network for Youth CEO and its members testified.

On May 22, the Senate Judiciary Committee marked up and approved the bill. The House passed H.R. 5524 on June 9th and the Senate majority hotlined the bill the following day. Unfortunately, Senator Coburn (R-OK) placed a hold on the legislation due to increased authorization levels.

Senator Leahy, Chair of the Judiciary Committee, provided a proposal to Senator Coburn on September 23rd in a final attempt to pass the legislation before it expires and send it to the President for signature.

Please call Senator Coburn's offices in Washington (202-224-5754) and Oklahoma (918-581-7651 and 405-231-4941) to urge him to renew this legislation. Tell him the legislation reauthorizes and strengthens the Runaway and Homeless Youth Programs, which served over 740,000 runaway and homeless in youth in 2007.

The last federally funded evaluation of RHYA programs demonstrated that the programs reduced drop-out rates; doubled school attendance; increased college attendance; increased employment rates; reduced parental physical abuse; and improved family relationships for unaccompanied youth.

The White House Office of Management and Budget has rated the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act programs as effective in their rigorous PART Score evaluation, which measures program results and accountability, management and purpose and design.

Making two phone calls will only take a couple of minutes, but it could make a world of difference for homeless youth.