All of us need support on the journey to adulthood, particularly young people who are or have experienced homelessness. This bill updates the federal Runaway and Homeless Youth Act program, which provides housing and service options to youth in need, prevents trafficking, identifies survivors, and supports young people’s transition to adulthood.

U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Don Bacon (R-NE), Zachary Nunn (R-IA), and Morgan McGarvey (D-KY) and U.S. Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced the bipartisan and bicameral Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act (RHYTPA) on October 25, 2023 (S.3125 / H.R.6041). RHYTPA comprehensively updates and reauthorizes the vital Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) program.

Key components of RHYTPA include:

  • Extending Transitional Living Program services to survivors of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, and trafficking, as practicable;

  • increasing the allowable length of stay in Basic Center Programs to 30 days, or longer if state law allows;

  • increasing the age of eligibility in Transitional Living Programs from 21 to 25;

  • clarifying that providers can serve more than 20 youth per program and have more than 20 beds in a building;

  • increasing authorized appropriations levels to $319.5 million annually; and

  • including additional funding to grantees for prevention services.

No young person should experience homelessness in America. Now is the time for Congress to act.

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