Political Quotes

“I come to the Senate floor today to introduce the Leahy-Collins Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act. The prevalence of homelessness among young people in America is deplorable. There are 1.6 million homeless teens in the United States. This problem is not limited to large cities. Its impact is felt strongly in smaller communities and rural areas, including in my home State of Vermont. It affects our young people directly and reverberates throughout our families and communities. The Runaway Youth Act, first signed into law in 1974, has proven essential to providing the services and resources that runaway and homeless youth need, and our continued support is vital. Thirty-nine percent of the homeless population is under the age of 18, and the average age at which a teen becomes homeless is 14.7 years old. These numbers are stark reminders of our duty as a nation to protect the most vulnerable among us. This bill reauthorizes funding for key elements of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Programs, including the Basic Center Program, which provides short-term emergency shelter and family reunification services to runaway and homeless youth. The Transitional Living Program provides longer term residential services, life skills, education, and employment support to older homeless youth.…”