A letter written by Denham – signed by 78 members of Congress – and supported by the National Network for Youth was sent yesterday to the House Committee on Appropriations requesting a fix for expiring Transition Living Program (TLP) and Maternity Group Home (MGH) grants to prevent a funding gap that would harm homeless and runaway youth programs in communities nationwide.
“Homelessness is a major issue we face in the Central Valley, and a loss of services that have proven successful would be a serious setback for our community and ultimately increase the homeless youth population,” said Denham. “Shelters like the Center for Human Services in Modesto make a big difference, and we cannot afford to see them shut down because of a failure of Congress to act.”
“We’re grateful for Congressman Denham’s responsiveness and his advocacy on behalf of our program and the over 100 other homelessness programs across the county that are facing this funding crisis,” said Cindy Duenas, Executive Director of the Modesto Center for Human Services. “We serve the most vulnerable young people in our community, providing not only housing, but supports that allow them to become self-sufficient; our federal funding is critical to our continued success.”
The Center for Human Services in Modesto provides community assistance throughout Stanislaus County. Initiatives like their Pathways Program in Modesto provide temporary shelter to homeless youth, teach life skills, and offer counseling and transitional services to homeless, pregnant and parenting youth. These efforts promote long-term economic independence to ensure the well-being of these young men and women. Without action, TLP and MGH grants, which largely fund these organizations, will face an extended eligibility gap resulting in major cuts and permanent closures in programs across the nation.
Source: Congressman Jeff Denham
