CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 121Introduced by Senator Hurtado(Coauthor: Assembly Member Calderon)August 04, 2022 Relative to Runaway and Homeless Youth Prevention Month. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSCR 121, as introduced, Hurtado. Runaway and Homeless Youth Prevention Month.This measure would designate November 2022 as Runaway and Homeless Youth Prevention Month in California and would recognize the need for individuals, schools, communities, businesses, local governments, and the state to take action on behalf of runaway and homeless youth in California.Digest Key Fiscal Committee: NO Bill TextWHEREAS, Runaway and homeless youth are young people between 12 and 24 years of age, inclusive, who have the least access to essential opportunities and supports; andWHEREAS, The prevalence of runaways and homelessness among youth is staggering, with studies suggesting that nationally between 1,600,000 and 2,800,000 youth up to 24 years of age experience homelessness every year, of which an overrepresentation, compared to the general youth population, are youth of color, gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender youth; andWHEREAS, Based on national surveys and Californias youth population, an estimated 200,000 youth under 18 years of age, and thousands more who are 18 to 24 years of age, inclusive, are homeless for one or more days each year; andWHEREAS, Based on the United States Department of Housing and Urban Developments 2019 Point-In-Time homeless count, the number of unaccompanied homeless youth in California was 11,993, and there were another 2,220 parenting youth and their children experiencing homelessness. A study released in November 2017 by the University of Chicagos Chapin Hall found 1 in 10 young adults between 18 and 25 years of age, and, at least, 1 in 30 adolescents between 13 and 17 years of age experience homelessness over the course of a year; andWHEREAS, The percentage of unaccompanied homeless youth who are unsheltered in California stands at 78.9 percent, which is the highest in the country. California also has 34 percent of the homeless youth population in the country, the largest number of homeless youth of any state; andWHEREAS, Runaway and homeless youth flee conflict, abuse, neglect, or increasingly, poverty in their homes. They have become disconnected from educational systems and the workforce and do not have the skills and financial resources to live on their own. The factors impacting youth homelessness are complex and differ from those impacting other homeless populations; andWHEREAS, Runaway and homeless youth who live on the street are victims of physical abuse, sexual exploitation, human trafficking, and crime in untold numbers. An estimated 300,000 youth are either victims or at risk of becoming victims of commercial and sexual exploitation each year, of which 60 percent of these victimized children are homeless; andWHEREAS, Homeless youth tend to have started using drugs at a younger age, often before 15 years of age. Early drug use and abuse is predictive of serious adult addiction problems and long-term homelessness; andWHEREAS, Youth who age out of the foster care system are at an increased risk of homelessness, and represent an estimated 20 percent of the 20,000 youth who leave foster care and are currently homeless; andWHEREAS, These youth are on the street because they feel there are no other options open to them; andWHEREAS, Providing safe, stable, and permanent housing for runaway and homeless youth is a family, community, state, and national priority, and homeless youth are considered one of the unique populations in the homeless community by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness; andWHEREAS, The future well-being of our state depends on the value we place on our youth and, in particular, on our actions to provide the most vulnerable young people in the state with opportunities to acquire the knowledge, skills, and abilities they need to find and maintain stable housing and to develop into healthy and productive adults; andWHEREAS, The COVID-19 pandemic is being felt by youth through high unemployment rates and increased demand for youth-centered care and mental health services, technology, and access to hygiene, food, shelter, and safety; andWHEREAS, The number of effective programs providing services and support to runaway and homeless youth in California is a fraction of what is needed to fully address the needs of these young people; only 22 out of Californias 58 counties have programs for runaway and homeless youth; andWHEREAS, The California Coalition for Youth has operated the California Youth Crisis Line (1-800-843-5200) 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for over 30 years as the states only emergency response system for youth in crisis, which began offering chat-to-text counseling services in 2016; andWHEREAS, November is National Runaway and Homeless Youth Prevention Month; andWHEREAS, The California Coalition for Youth, along with other community-based organizations, providers, and advocates, is sponsoring Californias 11th annual Runaway and Homeless Youth Prevention Month to increase awareness and action on behalf of youth at risk or currently living on the street; andWHEREAS, Awareness of the tragedy of youth experiencing homelessness and its causes must be heightened to ensure greater support for effective programs aimed at preventing homelessness and helping youth remain off the streets; now, therefore, be itResolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes the need for individuals, schools, communities, businesses, local governments, and the state to take action on behalf of runaway and homeless youth in California; and be it furtherResolved, That the Legislature hereby designates the month of November 2022 as Runaway and Homeless Youth Prevention Month in California; and be it furtherResolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 121Introduced by Senator Hurtado(Coauthor: Assembly Member Calderon)August 04, 2022 Relative to Runaway and Homeless Youth Prevention Month. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSCR 121, as introduced, Hurtado. Runaway and Homeless Youth Prevention Month.This measure would designate November 2022 as Runaway and Homeless Youth Prevention Month in California and would recognize the need for individuals, schools, communities, businesses, local governments, and the state to take action on behalf of runaway and homeless youth in California.Digest Key Fiscal Committee: NO
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20212022 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Concurrent Resolution
No. 121
Introduced by Senator Hurtado(Coauthor: Assembly Member Calderon)August 04, 2022
Introduced by Senator Hurtado(Coauthor: Assembly Member Calderon)
August 04, 2022
Relative to Runaway and Homeless Youth Prevention Month.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SCR 121, as introduced, Hurtado. Runaway and Homeless Youth Prevention Month.
This measure would designate November 2022 as Runaway and Homeless Youth Prevention Month in California and would recognize the need for individuals, schools, communities, businesses, local governments, and the state to take action on behalf of runaway and homeless youth in California.
This measure would designate November 2022 as Runaway and Homeless Youth Prevention Month in California and would recognize the need for individuals, schools, communities, businesses, local governments, and the state to take action on behalf of runaway and homeless youth in California.
## Digest Key
## Bill Text
WHEREAS, Runaway and homeless youth are young people between 12 and 24 years of age, inclusive, who have the least access to essential opportunities and supports; and
WHEREAS, The prevalence of runaways and homelessness among youth is staggering, with studies suggesting that nationally between 1,600,000 and 2,800,000 youth up to 24 years of age experience homelessness every year, of which an overrepresentation, compared to the general youth population, are youth of color, gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender youth; and
WHEREAS, Based on national surveys and Californias youth population, an estimated 200,000 youth under 18 years of age, and thousands more who are 18 to 24 years of age, inclusive, are homeless for one or more days each year; and
WHEREAS, Based on the United States Department of Housing and Urban Developments 2019 Point-In-Time homeless count, the number of unaccompanied homeless youth in California was 11,993, and there were another 2,220 parenting youth and their children experiencing homelessness. A study released in November 2017 by the University of Chicagos Chapin Hall found 1 in 10 young adults between 18 and 25 years of age, and, at least, 1 in 30 adolescents between 13 and 17 years of age experience homelessness over the course of a year; and
WHEREAS, The percentage of unaccompanied homeless youth who are unsheltered in California stands at 78.9 percent, which is the highest in the country. California also has 34 percent of the homeless youth population in the country, the largest number of homeless youth of any state; and
WHEREAS, Runaway and homeless youth flee conflict, abuse, neglect, or increasingly, poverty in their homes. They have become disconnected from educational systems and the workforce and do not have the skills and financial resources to live on their own. The factors impacting youth homelessness are complex and differ from those impacting other homeless populations; and
WHEREAS, Runaway and homeless youth who live on the street are victims of physical abuse, sexual exploitation, human trafficking, and crime in untold numbers. An estimated 300,000 youth are either victims or at risk of becoming victims of commercial and sexual exploitation each year, of which 60 percent of these victimized children are homeless; and
WHEREAS, Homeless youth tend to have started using drugs at a younger age, often before 15 years of age. Early drug use and abuse is predictive of serious adult addiction problems and long-term homelessness; and
WHEREAS, Youth who age out of the foster care system are at an increased risk of homelessness, and represent an estimated 20 percent of the 20,000 youth who leave foster care and are currently homeless; and
WHEREAS, These youth are on the street because they feel there are no other options open to them; and
WHEREAS, Providing safe, stable, and permanent housing for runaway and homeless youth is a family, community, state, and national priority, and homeless youth are considered one of the unique populations in the homeless community by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness; and
WHEREAS, The future well-being of our state depends on the value we place on our youth and, in particular, on our actions to provide the most vulnerable young people in the state with opportunities to acquire the knowledge, skills, and abilities they need to find and maintain stable housing and to develop into healthy and productive adults; and
WHEREAS, The COVID-19 pandemic is being felt by youth through high unemployment rates and increased demand for youth-centered care and mental health services, technology, and access to hygiene, food, shelter, and safety; and
WHEREAS, The number of effective programs providing services and support to runaway and homeless youth in California is a fraction of what is needed to fully address the needs of these young people; only 22 out of Californias 58 counties have programs for runaway and homeless youth; and
WHEREAS, The California Coalition for Youth has operated the California Youth Crisis Line (1-800-843-5200) 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for over 30 years as the states only emergency response system for youth in crisis, which began offering chat-to-text counseling services in 2016; and
WHEREAS, November is National Runaway and Homeless Youth Prevention Month; and
WHEREAS, The California Coalition for Youth, along with other community-based organizations, providers, and advocates, is sponsoring Californias 11th annual Runaway and Homeless Youth Prevention Month to increase awareness and action on behalf of youth at risk or currently living on the street; and
WHEREAS, Awareness of the tragedy of youth experiencing homelessness and its causes must be heightened to ensure greater support for effective programs aimed at preventing homelessness and helping youth remain off the streets; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes the need for individuals, schools, communities, businesses, local governments, and the state to take action on behalf of runaway and homeless youth in California; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature hereby designates the month of November 2022 as Runaway and Homeless Youth Prevention Month in California; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.