CA Homeless Youth Project Blog

Farewell to Martha

Greetings,

Time sure has flown by. My time as a social work intern at the California Homeless Youth Project (HYP) has come to an end. I have to thank the researchers at the California Research Bureau and, UC Berkeley, and UC San Francisco. I have been so lucky to work alongside such experts who not only provided guidance, but provided support and encouragement regarding my writing capability. My understanding of policy development  and policy interventions to improve the lives of homeless youth in our state has grown tremendously. I understand that in order to end homelessness, all realms need to collaborate with each other, and that is what HYP attempts to do which helps us provide rich reports for policymakers and stakeholders.

I have valued my experience here, and for that I thank to the Project Director, Shahera, for giving me the opportunity to be a part of HYP.

As my Grandfather would say, “Au revoir, auf wiedersehen, adios, sayōnara, paalam, and farewell for now,”

~Martha

On the Horizon – A New Brief on Immigration Status & Youth Homelessness

The project is proud to announce that our Consultant, Jimmy Ramirez, is currently working on a policy brief on the intersection of youth homelessness and immigration status. Through our review of the literature, we’ve learned that undocumented youth and the  children of undocumented immigrants are at risk of homelessness for a number of reasons.

(Photo Credit: Kent Lacin)

Immigration status has created significant barriers for youth attempting to access benefits; however, the US government has implemented provisions to help these youth (in some cases). For example, all undocumented homeless youth enrolled in public school have the same access to resources under the McKinney-Vento Act and the DREAM Act which would enable more undocumented youth to access higher education and create a path for a career.

Furthermore, the brief will discuss different forms of immigration relief, such as the implementation of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which helps this vulnerable population become stable US citizens.

The brief will also include landmark legislation that has had a significant impact on the well-being of undocumented homeless youth in California, and offer policy recommendations that will allow these children to achieve stability.

If you have any questions or recommended resources please do not hesitate to email us at shahera.hyatt@library.ca.gov

Thank you!

Jimmy

Social Workers Care about Homeless Youth

I am still excited about my experience last week. Why you ask? Last week I had the privilege to present on behalf of the CA Homeless Youth Project (HYP) to the Social Work Student Association (SWSA), a student organization at California State University, Sacramento.

Youth homelessness is such a huge issue that intersects with several issues relating to the social work profession (poverty, domestic violence, child welfare, sexual exploitation, mental & physical health, and so on). Social workers may provide services to people at risk of becoming homeless, so it is important for them to know the needs of people experiencing housing instability. In the case of youth homelessness, their stories are distinctly different than adults who experience homelessness.

About half of the attendees at the presentation were aware of youth homelessness because of their work in child welfare or homelessness. For example, some students shared that they have volunteered or worked with youth experiencing homelessness or at-risk of becoming homeless (i.e. former foster youth, LGBTQ youth, etc.).  After viewing the documentary, Voices from the Street: Homeless Youth Speak Out on State Policy, some attendees were not surprised to hear about the struggles among homeless youth and shared their experience of working with youth who have similar stories shared in the documentary such as “youth running away from family violence,” “kids grades, attendance, and attitudes are affected when they’re worried about where they’re going to sleep,” and how “they don’t have many ‘true friends’.”

Youth experiencing homelessness often experience social or economic injustice, issues that social workers are committed to combating. With the help of youth, researchers, and service providers, HYP provides research informed policy recommendations that aim to reduce youth homelessness. In fact, the HYP report, More Than a Roof: How California Can End Youth Homelessness, provided policy recommendations for service providers, state agencies, policy makers, and advocates. Many bills pertaining to youth homelessness have been introduced this legislative term, largely relating to access to education, housing, and food. If Social Workers promote social change and if policy changes affect society, then I think it’s safe to say that Social Workers should know policy.

Resources regarding youth homelessness:

• Youth Homelessness in California: A Quick Overview
• Sexual Exploitation and Homeless Youth in California: What Policymakers Need to Know
• Struggling to Survive: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning Homeless Youth on the Streets of California

Hotlines for Youth Experiencing/At-Risk of Homelessness

• California Youth Crisis Line
  
• National Runaway Safeline

Resources about state policy and the legislative process:

• CalChannel: Watch Legislative hearings and learn how bills are voted on in the California Assembly and Senate.
• California Legislative Information: Find out what bills are introduced this session and even track the status of bills.
• California Representatives: Laws affect you, so find out which Assemblymember and Senator represent you!

~Martha

California Can’t Afford to Have Youth Missing from National Homeless Count

The California Homeless Youth Project released a new report at the Housing California conference yesterday alongside researchers and members of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. Hidden in Plain Sight: An Assessment of Youth Inclusion in Point-in-Time Counts of California’s Unsheltered Homeless Population  highlights best practices for counting unaccompanied minors and transition-age youth experiencing homelessness.

Youth are a hidden population that has historically been undercounted in local, state and federal efforts to enumerate the homeless population. Among researchers and advocates for the homeless, a clear recognition has emerged that strategies to improve the well-being of homeless youth in California must be informed by accurate data.

To identify the challenges and successes communities have had in counting homeless youth, researchers interviewed staff from 31 of the 43 Continuums of Care in California about their experiences conducting the 2013 Point-in-Time (PIT) count. Mandated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the PIT count is conducted in order to receive federal funds for homeless assistance and improve community planning efforts to end homelessness. 

From the interviews, researchers identified common challenges in accurately counting homeless youth, which helped guide recommendations for communities conducting future PIT counts, including: 

•  Involving youth service providers and homeless youth as PIT count enumerators/interviewers;
• Collaborating with McKinney-Vento school homeless liaisons to include data on homeless students as part of or a supplement to the PIT count;
• Providing a stipend to youth for their time staffing in the count; and
• Incorporating a dedicated count of youth at specified locations and times of day during the PIT count.

The authors of this report are Colette Auerswald, MD, MS, at the University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine and the University of California; Jessica Lin, MPH, at the University of California, San Francisco; Laura Petry a graduate student in Management and Planning at the UC Berkeley School of Social Welfare; and Shahera Hyatt, MSW, at the California Homeless Youth Project. View the Executive Summary here. 

The Project goes on MSNBC to discuss Youth Homelessness

I was recently honored to receive an invitation from Melissa Harris-Perry to be on her MSNBC show to discuss the issue of youth homelessness and more importantly to discuss the recent inclusion of  youth age 18 to 24 in HUD’s Point-in-Time (PIT) Count this year.

When I arrived to the DC studio, I was escorted into the green room, where I anxiously waited. I was greeted by the camera operator, David, and was handed an earpiece that connected me to the New York Cty headquarters (where the show was filmed). I was told to look and speak directly into the camera and given great words of encouragement by the producers in New York City and my best friend Corey (photographed below).

The segment began. Ms. Harris-Perry opened with the following words:  “While those of us who haven’t experienced homelessness can’t describe the experience; we can recognize the significance of quantifying it.” I wholeheartedly agree. Ms. Harris-Perry was able to articulate how data is singularly the most important tool as we move forward to end youth homelessness. It provides policymakers and practitioners tangible estimates on the scope of the problem and a path for moving forward.

I was honored to speak alongside fellow formerly homeless youth and experts in the field. The conversation that took place brought the issue of youth homelessness to the forefront while at the same time commending the recent inclusion of youth in the PIT count.

During the interview, I was really hoping Ms. Harris-Perry would ask me about my opinion on the Obama administration’s efforts in helping end youth homelessness. On her program, Ms. Harris Perry quoted President Obama in his Inauguration Speech: “We are true to our creed when a little girl born into the bleakest poverty knows that she has the same chance to succeed because she is an American.” The administration’s initiatives including the US Interagency Council on Homelessness federal strategic plan to end youth homelessness by 2020 has demonstrated that this country cares about the plight of those without homes across our country.

Here at the Homeless Youth Project, we have attempted to align California with the efforts of the USICH by authoring a state plan to end youth homelessness. More than Just a Roof is a comprehensive plan that establishes a strategy to coordinate service providers, government agencies, and policymakers in California. The plan particularly emphasizes the need for better data on youth homelessness.

Learn more about the plan here: More Than a Roof

I would like to thank Ms. Harris-Perry for broadcasting this issue and her commitment to social justice for the children of this nation. I would also like to thank David for allowing me to take the cheesiest photos of all time in the NBC News Room after my interview. 

Remember that only together can we end youth homelessness and to “Stay Classy California”.

Sincerely, 

Jimmy

California Legislative Bill Digest

In these first few months of the new two-year legislative session, California lawmakers have introduced a number of bills related to youth homelessness. Listed below are nine proposed bills that aim to address youth homelessness primarily as it relates to educational services, involvement with the child welfare system, and access to safety net programs.

Senate Bill

SB 177: Homeless Youth Education Success Act
Author: Sen. Liu (D – La Cañada Flintridge)
Co-Author: Asm. Ammiano (D – San Francisco)
This bill includes numerous provisions that would affirm the education rights of California’s homeless child or youth, by considering them eligible to participate in extra-curricular activities (i.e. interscholastic sports) even if they don’t meet school-residency requirements. This bill would provide youth access to educational support and services by requiring:

• Immediate enrollment of a homeless child or youth;
• The State Department of Education and the Department of Social Services to organize a work-group to accomplish specified objectives relating to homeless children and youth; and
• Local educational liaisons for homeless children and youth to ensure public notice of the educational rights of homeless children and youths are distributed in schools within the liaison’s local educational agency.

Assembly Bills

AB 5: Homeless Person’s Bill of Rights
Author: Asm. Ammiano (D – San Francisco)
The bill would enact a Homeless Person’s Bill of Rights, providing that “no person’s rights, privileges, or access to public services may be denied or abridged because he or she is homeless, has a low income, or suffers from a mental illness or physical disability” and would clarify many federal laws related to the educational rights of homeless youth under the McKinney-Vento Act.

 AB 264: Homelessness: housing
Author: Asm. Maienschein (R – San Diego)
This bill states that intent of the California Legislature is to “enact legislation to provide housing for homeless persons in this state.”

AB 309: CalFresh: homeless youth
Author: Asm. Mitchell (D – Los Angeles)
This bill aims to clarify that there is no minimum age requirement for unaccompanied homeless youth to apply for CalFresh benefits. This bill would also require county welfare departments to promote awareness of CalFresh expedited services to the homeless population by ensuring local educational agency liaisons and homeless shelter operators to receive training about CalFresh services.

AB 346: Emergency Youth Shelter
Author: Asm. Stone (D – Scotts Valley)
This bill would require that the Department of Social Services (DSS) create a new licensing category for emergency youth shelters. DSS would license shelter facilities that have met the requirements to offer short-term, 24-hour non-medical care and supervision and personal services for up to 25 youths who voluntarily enter the facility. The bill would require DSS to adopt regulations to implement these provisions.

AB 652: Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act: homeless children
Author: Asm. Ammiano (D – San Francisco)
The Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act would clarify that a minor’s homelessness is not, in and of itself, a sufficient basis for reporting child abuse or neglect. This clarification would be consistent with federal law.

AB 951: Educational rights of homeless children: school district administrator and staff training
Author: Asm. Medina (D – Riverside)
This bill would require school districts to:

• Train all administrators and certificated and classified staff about the educational rights of homeless children and correlate services according, but not limited to, the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act;
• provide public notice to all students and parent/guardians regarding the educational rights of homeless children; and
• Designate a liaison between the school district and the homeless population to ensure that homeless children are identified and served accordingly.

AB 1068: PupilRecords
Author: Asm. Bloom (D – Santa Monica)
This billwould allow minors age 15 years or older to access their own records if the minor “is living separate and apart from his or her parent or guardian, and is managing his or her own financial affairs.”

AB 1110: Foster Care Services
Author:Asm. Mansoor (R – Costa Mesa)
This bill intends to “preserve and strengthen a child’s family ties whenever possible, removing the child from the custody of his or her parents only when necessary for his or her welfare or for the safety and protection of the public.” The bill would amend the Section 16000 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to foster care. Reunification must be deemed “impossible or unlikely” for an alternate permanent housing option to be found; rather than “not possible or likely.”

AB 1283: Homeless Youth: Service Providers
Author: Asm. Bonilla (D – Concord)
This bill would mandate the state advisory group on youth homelessness to identify existing programs that assist youth homelessness and develop a directory of these programs. In addition, it would require this advisory group to found an “Internet Web site for runaway and homeless youth that would include a directory of service providers and the rights of homeless and runaway youth.” The bill would amend Section 1786 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to homeless youth.

The California Homeless Youth Project is a non-partisan initiative of the California Research Bureau and the California State Library. As such, we do not take a position on legislation; this post is for educational purposes only.

More Than a Roof: State Action Plan Release Round-Up

   Nearly 50 community members, policymakers, and advocates came to the State Capitol last week to see Senator Carol Liu host an informative press conference to release our new State Action Plan, “More Than a Roof: How California Can End Youth Homelessness”. Our report identifies 10 main subject areas addressing the needs of homeless youth (prevention, education, employment, supportive services, housing, health, juvenile justice, rural areas, governance, and research and data) and offers corresponding policy solutions and action steps for state and local policymakers, service providers, and government agencies.

   Featured Speakers included Senator Carol Liu, Homeless Youth Project Director Shahera Hyatt, and homeless youth Joshua Williams & Aaron Mott from California Council on Youth Relations. All speakers emphasized the importance of a state action plan to end youth homelessness and shared their ideas for ending youth homelessness. Senator Liu discussed her support for More Than a Roof by saying, “We are fortunate that the information presented not only raises awareness of the scope of the homeless youth problem but also provides a framework for tackling an issue that heretofore has been largely ignored. I am committed to advancing the report’s recommendations, through legislation if needed, to prevent and reduce youth homelessness.”

   Hyatt added, “Homeless youth do not access services for chronically homeless adults or homeless families, for a variety of reasons: their needs are different, they have experienced threats, theft, or harassment in those programs, or they have been turned away from those programs because they don’t meet eligibility requirements. Plans to address the needs of these populations don’t necessarily impact unaccompanied homeless youth, so we felt we needed to create a plan that is youth-focused and specifically addresses the unique needs of homeless young people.”

   Williams had this to say about the plan, “The idea of a state action plan to end youth homelessness is phenomenal. No one chooses to be out on the street. We should help youth get back on their feet so they can be successful as they mature into adults. It makes no sense to turn your back on youth.” 

   Opening Remarks were followed by a screening of our documentary, “Voices from the Streets: Homeless Youth Speak Out on State Policy”, which highlights California homeless youth’s ideas for policy change that coincide with some subjects from our state action plan.

   If you were unable to attend, please watch the video of our Press Conference and review our report to see how we all can be a part of the plan, as we get closer to reaching the goal of ending youth homelessness. 

Educate Youth & Parents’ Rights Under McKinney Vento

On November 15, I had the honor of attending the “Spotlight on Youth Homelessness” a panel discussion presented by The DC Alliance of Youth Advocates. This panel discussed the issue of youth homelessness in the context of Washington DC and included experts from community based organizations, government agencies, and the DC public school system. One of the most impressionable moments from the panel was the testimony of Azalia Speit the DC Principal of Luke Moore High School. She explained that her staff had to receive additional training to handle the influx of youth homelessness within the public school system. More astounding, was the fact that the district, which is made up of 40,000 plus students, has only one McKinney Vento Liaison. The work that this principal had to do to ensure her staff was well prepared, coincides with one of the recommendations in our action plan to address youth homelessness:

Ensure that all homeless youth in schools are counted by training school staff to identify homeless youth, posting notice of McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act eligibility, educating Parent-Teacher Associations, and using enrollment forms that can help determine housing status.” 

To that end, an innovative approach to present the rights of homeless youth has been developed by the National Center for Homeless Education. NCHE has developed posters that outline the educational rights of homeless youth on posters that are available in both Spanish and English.

NCHE has also developed posters for both youth and parents that visually demonstrate what type of housing qualifies the child as homeless (ie shelters, cars, doubled up) and follows up with the rights ensured by the McKinney Vento Act (ie. transportation to and from school).

My favorite thing about these posters are the sections designated for “Local Liaison” and “State Coordinator,” these spaces are left blank to be filled out by local educators. This allows youth or parents to easily access to the information and  directly contact the person that can help in a time of need.

The posters can be found here. 

If you are a local administrator, provider, or educator we highly recommend posting these posters to ensure youth in your area are aware of their rights to education and basic needs.

To read more about our strategic, state-wide plan to end youth homelessness, click here.