On December 4, 2025, NN4Y members from all across the country joined a members luncheon as part of their Runaway and Homeless Youth Grantees conference. We are grateful to everyone who was able to travel, and we missed those unable to attend.
This has been a challenging year across federal policy and for youth homelessness providers, but it has also been a testament to the power of community. We are deeply grateful for the guidance and partnership of our members, who help us meet the moment and continue the fight to prevent and end youth homelessness.
For many, this luncheon was the first time meeting in person, and the energy in the room reflected that connection! We were honored to hear from an NN4Y board member, Deborah Shore, Executive Director and Founder of the Sasha Bruce Network in DC, who spoke powerfully about what it means to “meet the moment” together.
About Runaway and Homeless Youth Act Funding
The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) is the only federal program for supporting youth experiencing homelessness. It is administered by the Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
In 2025, we witnessed one of the worst threats to this program since it was first enacted over 50 years ago. When the RHYA Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) was released on July 9, 2025, it was out of compliance and included harmful changes that are echoed in this administration’s actions. It gave youth homelessness service providers only 14 days to complete the application, a process that usually takes 60 days or more.
NN4Y secured an additional five days for applicants to complete submissions—directly supporting service providers’ ability to compete. That would not have been possible without the advocacy of our powerful network, who reached out to their U.S. Senators to tell HHS to extend the deadline.
Become a Member
National Network for Youth membership is more than just resources. We provide a trusted space for our network to learn, collaborate, and advocate for a future where all youth, young adults, and young parent families have a safe and stable place to call home.
Our membership runs on a calendar year (January – December), making now the perfect time to renew or become a member!
In recognition of the challenges our members face, any organization that has lost an RHYA or other federal grant can receive a 3-month discount on 2026 membership. If your organization qualifies, please contact Jennifer at Jennifer.Queeley@nn4youth.org.
