The impact and advocacy campaign for The Homestretch launches with the 2014 school year.  The campaign leverages policy briefings, targeted screenings, community events, and ongoing coalition building to affect lasting change for homeless youth.  Check back soon for updates.

Meanwhile, Federal Action is urgently needed, and you can help!

    • Urge your legislators to reauthorize and increase appropriations for the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act. This act provides long-term residential services, and support for prevention and outreach efforts to move youth out of homelessness, crisis, and harm. 
    • Urge your legislators to reauthorize and increase funding to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act, a federal law that ensures immediate enrollment and educational stability for homeless children and youth. 
    • Urge your legislators to pass the Higher Education Access and Success for Homeless and Foster Youth Act, to ensure that homeless and foster youth benefit from college programs, have access to financial aid, and receive the support they need to stay in school and graduate.

     

    National Partners

     
     
     

    Facts about homeless youth:

    Fact:  Right now, 1.21 million young people in the United States are living in homeless shelters, unsupervised on the streets, in abandoned buildings, with friends or with strangers.[1] The longer youth remain homeless, physical assault; rape; human trafficking; and serious mental health risks are greatly amplified.[2] 

    Fact:  Youth age 12 to 17 are more at risk of homelessness than adults.[3]

    Fact:  Up to 40% of homeless youth identify as Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender or Questioning (GLBTQ).[4]

    Fact:  46 percent of runaway and homeless youth reported being physically abused, 38 percent reported being emotionally abused, and 17 percent reported being forced into unwanted sexual activity by a family or household member.[5]

    Fact:  On any given night there are only 4,737 emergency and transitional living beds available in the United States.[6]

    [1] U.S. Department of Education (2013). Note: Only reflects reported numbers. Many schools do not report.
    [2] National Coalition for the Homeless (January, 2014)
    [3] Department of Housing and Urban Development (January, 2014)
    [4] True Colors Fund’s Forty to None Project (2012)
    [5] National Coalition for the Homeless (January, 2014)
    [6] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children Youth and Families (2013)

     

    Chicago Partners