reauthorize and modernize the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, which expired in 2013, with new provisions to address and prevent human trafficking among at risk youth across the nation.“Homelessness and human trafficking are two of the biggest problems we face in California’s Central Valley,” said Congressman Denham. “I’m working with programs in my community to improve the lives of at-risk youth, and this bill will further empower them to do that — especially when it comes to strengthening trafficking prevention efforts and victim assistance.”
The bill would provide funding for rural, suburban and urban communities to prevent and respond to young adult homelessness, strengthen prevention efforts through both outreach and basic center programs and enable centers and programs to serve youth for longer periods of time. It also addresses key areas of need, including helping young people to get their GED, provide support for young parents through Maternity Group Homes, and ensure access to services for the most at-risk demographics.
More human traffickers are caught in California than any other state, and to make matters worse, 40 percent of trafficked victims are between the ages of 12 to 17 while 60 percent are between 18 and 25, with many in this demographic having been trafficked at a younger age. Congressman Denham recently supported several human trafficking bills, including the Combating Human Trafficking in Commercial Vehicles Act and No Human Trafficking on Our Roads Act, to help keep perpetrators at bay and limit their access to commercial vehicles commonly used in trafficking.
Congressman Denham has also long been a champion of Runaway and Homeless Youth programs, spearheading an effort to save funding for expiring Transition Living Program (TLP) and Maternity Group Home (MGH) grants along with Rep. Yarmuth in November, benefiting organizations and shelters like the Center for Human Services in Modesto, which may have seen major cuts or permanent closures with a lapse in federal funds. The letter, authored by Denham, signed by 78 members of Congress and supported by the National Network for Youth can be found here.
Source: Congressman Jeff Denham
