SCR 167: California Runaway and Homeless Youth Prevention Month.

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; 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 2023 point-in-time homeless count, the number of unaccompanied homeless youth in California is 10,173, and there are another 2,219 parenting youth and their children experiencing homelessness. Californias K12 educational system, which captures youth doubled-up or couch surfing, reported 8,537 unaccompanied homeless youth, of which 606 were temporarily unsheltered, in the 202223 school year. While a study released in November 2017 by the University of Chicagos Chapin Hall found one in 10 young adults between 18 and 25 years of age, and at least one in 30 adolescents between 13 and 17 years of age, homelessness over the course of a year; and

WHEREAS, The percentage of unaccompanied homeless youth who are unsheltered in California stands at 68.2 percent, which is the second highest in the country. California also has 29 percent of the homeless youth 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 the commercial sexual exploitation of children each year, which sixty 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, Youths 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 youths 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 develop into healthy and productive adults; and

WHEREAS, The COVID-19 pandemic, and its lasting impacts, are 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, When targeted resources are invested, we see a significant increase in the number of communities with youth-specific housing and programs that will help prevent youth from becoming chronically homeless. California has increased the number of youth beds from 3,159 in 2015 to 6,240 in 2023; 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, and 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, are sponsoring Californias thirteenth 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 2024 as California Runaway and Homeless Youth Prevention Month; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.