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Help End Youth Homelessness in the United States

Currently, there are approximately 750,000 to 2 million young adults who experience homelessness each year in the United States. Many of the youth who do not have regular, safe and adequate shelter have “aged out” of foster care, been released from detention facilities or are runaways from abusive homes.

The Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act (HEARTH), would provide greater decision making at the local level, expand resources for emergency shelter and supportive services, strengthen homeless prevention activities and give communities flexibly to create a range of housing solutions.

You can help us prevent or end many of the problems facing homeless youth. With 75 Representatives secured as cosponsors already, we are confident that we can win the backing to pass this important bill.

Please urge your Representative to help homeless youth by supporting the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act (HEARTH) today!

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Dear Representative [Last Name],

Currently, there are approximately 750,000 to 2 million young adults who experience homelessness each year in the United States.

Most of the homeless youth population consists of:

  • Youth who have "aged out" of foster care each year with only 40 percent of those eligible receiving independent living services,

  • Youth who have been involved in the juvenile justice system or an adult facility and are not able to return home due to concerns around the appropriateness of housing/family conditions, or

  • Runaways/throwaways that are away from their families because of physical, sexual, and psychological abuse, neglect, parental and individual substance abuse, parental and individual mental health issues, cultural issues, sexual orientation, pregnancy, frequent family conflicts, and issues related to parental control.

But we can prevent or end many of the problems facing homeless youth. Twenty years ago, the McKinney Act provided the first major federal response to homelessness by providing aid and defining the rights of homeless men, women and children. The Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act (HEARTH), H.R. 840, is bipartisan legislation introduced in the House this year that would increase funding to communities, expand the definition of homelessness and introduce policies to discourage cities from criminalizing homelessness.

The HEARTH Act would amend the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and consolidate housing assistance programs for homeless persons. Specifically, this act would support local strategies for ending homelessness by providing greater decision making at the local level, expand resources for emergency shelter and supportive services, strengthen homeless prevention activities and give communities flexibly to create a range of housing solutions.

Homeless youth face endless challenges. But the HEARTH Act would give local communities the resources and support necessary to address many of these challenges. We need Congress to help communities tackle the problems facing homeless youth, so we can get them off the streets and help them grow up healthy and safe.

[Your comment]

If you have not already, please become an original cosponsor the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act today.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
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But we can prevent or end many of the problems facing homeless youth. Twenty years ago, the McKinney Act provided the first major federal response to homelessness by providing aid and defining the rights of homeless men, women and children. The Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act (HEARTH), H.R. 840, is bipartisan legislation introduced in the House this year that would increase funding to communities, expand the definition of homelessness and introduce policies to discourage cities from criminalizing homelessness. The HEARTH Act would amend the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and consolidate housing assistance programs for homeless persons. Specifically, this act would support local strategies for ending homelessness by providing greater decision making at the local level, expand resources for emergency shelter and supportive services, strengthen homeless prevention activities and give communities flexibly to create a range of housing solutions. Homeless youth face endless challenges. But the HEARTH Act would give local communities the resources and support necessary to address many of these challenges. We need Congress to help communities tackle the problems facing homeless youth, so we can get them off the streets and help them grow up healthy and safe. [Your comment] If you have not already, please become an original cosponsor the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act today. Sincerely, [Your Name] [Your Address]

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