PA Youth Advocates standing with Julia Cinquegrani and Kichelle Webster, from Senator Casey’s office, in front of an Eagles jersey baring the Senator’s name.

Advocates for youth and young adults who experience homelessness in Pennsylvania met with key staff of the offices of Senators Robert Casey and Patrick Toomey to ask for greater support.

Advocates urged the Senators to increase funding for programs that reduce youth homelessness and provide supports that no other system provides. Specifically, we asked them to:
  • Reauthorize the Runaway and Homeless Youth Actand increase its funding to $165 million.
  • Increase funding of the Education for Children and Youth to $115 million.
Both of these programs help youth stay in school, graduate, manage the stress of being homeless, and much, much more.
In addition, the PA Youth Advocates urged the Senators to sponsor S. 256, the Homeless Children and Youth Act. The legal definition of homelessness has been debated for more than 20 years, prompting advocates to urge Congress to eliminate the different definitions of who is homeless and end the discrimination against children and youth. Because most homeless youth are not identified by HUD as homeless, housing supports are not prioritized for youth. Recent HUD changes fall short of attacking youth homelessness directly, necessitating the need for the new law.
Action Alert:  Contact both Senators Casey and Toomey and urge them to support these issues. Contact them at:
New national advocacy campaign:  Education Leads Home is the only national campaign focused on closing educational achievement and attainment gaps for homeless students. Learn more at  http://www.educationleadshome.org/ and  sign up here