Homeless Youth Runaway Act signed into law
May 27, 2009 -
Last week, my second bill was signed into law. LD 1127, "An Act To Define Services for Maine Runaway and Homeless Youth," defines homeless youth, limits what providers get state funds. creates accountability between the providers and the Department of Health and Human Services and finally identifies what programs directly tackle homeless youth issues.
I submitted this bill because across the state we are seeing an increase in runaway and homeless youth. They don't choose to live on the streets; they are there because of the lack of programs geared specifically toward youth. The outlets available to them – prisons, hospitals, and treatment centers – fail to address the primary issue, homelessness.
Runaway and homeless youth are underserved in Maine due to vague and contradictory definitions of the demographic, their needs, and who is responsible for their care. Because there is no single organization in Maine that oversees and sets standards of care for this demographic, the continuum of care is disjointed and the funding streams are difficult to identify. Existing runaway and homeless youth funds in the state are not being spent effectively; worse, some programs that receive this funding are not serving the demographic at all.
All runaway and homeless youth deserve to receive services that meet their need for fixed and adequate nighttime residence.
The bill will create a statewide system to increase planning, streamline funding decisions, and create administrative efficiencies. It will define three program models: Emergency Shelters for Youth, Street Outreach Programs, and Transitional Living Programs. It will create statewide definitions of who will be served by these programs. It will allow the Department of Health and Human Services to set standards of care and hold providers accountable. This bill will provide a safety net for Maine youth who have fallen through the cracks of the existing system, and provide a statewide system of care to get them off the streets and onto the path of a productive adulthood.
The bill itself makes small changes to the law and create the definitions for the services to be provided, but the effect of the changes will be felt widespread amongst homeless youth and social service agencies. Funds intended for homeless youth will be better targeted to them, and I am incredibly proud that this was signed into law.
