The Opportunity
We can do better for Minnesota’s youth.
The 2006 Minnesota state legislature passed the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (MN Statute 256K.45) which accomplished three key goals:
1. The statute provides a more comprehensive definition for homeless youth that includes young people up to 21 years of age and is more flexible than federal definitions which do not capture “couch hoppers,” the many young people staying temporarily with friends and extended family members;
2. The statute requested a report on the state of runaway and homeless youth in Minnesota as well as existing services from the Department of Human Services (which will be available in February);
3. The statute defined the continuum of care to serve and support youth - street outreach, drop in centers, emergency shelter and transitional living programs.
Momentum is building to fund the runaway and homeless youth act!
Legislators simply need to hear that investing in youth is investing in our shared future.