Revised On 5/29/2014 with a message from the DC Alliance of Youth Advocates Executive Director Maggie Riden:
On March 28th, 2014 the DC Council voted to
invest $1.3 million into the End Youth Homelessness Amendment Act. While it is
not the funding mark we advocates pushed for, it is a 15% increase to homeless
youth resources from the FY’14 budget, which is a significant step in the right
direction.
More importantly though, we still have an opportunity to
increase this investment.
In June, the Office of the Chief Financial Officer will
release an updated revenue forecast for 2015 and there is a high level of
confidence that this forecast will be higher than anticipated. When this
happens, Council will come back to the table to decide how this additional
funding will be spent in the 2015 budget. This means that between now through
June we need your help in making sure Councilmembers understand the importance
of the End Youth Homelessness Amendment Act and that it stays high on the list
of funding priorities.
Please continue to ask your councilmembers through
emails, personal calls, direct tweets, and creative activism to fully fund the
End Youth Homelessness Amendment Act. It is through our collective power that
we influenced millions in funding already, and with this final push and
cohesive call to action we can make sure every young person in DC has a safe
place to call home. Thank you for your ardent activism over the past few months as we’ve worked together to ensure funding for our city’s most vulnerable, yet
resilient youth.
- -
Maggie Riden
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The DC council votes on the final budget today and only 1.3 million is allotted for the Homeless Youth Act.
1.3 million is only 13% of the
funding needed to provide services to not only house youth, but make sure they become
self sustaining adults.
Tell the DC Council you care 100% about our city’s homeless
youth!
What happens if DC only cares 13%?
Less Beds = youth will still be turned away during their
most desperate time of need
No Family Re-Unification Program = interventions that could
mend broken families and reunite children and parents will not exist
Limited Street Outreach = hungry, tired, desperate young
people still won’t have caring adults coming to them and saying “We can help
you. Here is some food. Here is some water. Here is where you can find a safe
place to sleep.”
No Fully Developed Drop-In Center = youth don’t know where
to turn to for help and now, they still won’t know where to go
Today is your last day to really make your voice matter! Please
tell each and every councilmember that you care 100%. And so should they.
Tweet at Your Councilmember
Resources
Testimonies from the End Youth Homelessness Amendment Act Hearing
DC Alliance of Youth Advocates is committed to ensuring all DC youth have access to the resources they need to be successful, self-sustaining adults. To learn more about our mission and issue areas visit: www.dc-aya.org.
For more on youth issues in DC you can FOLLOW us on Twitter, LIKE us on Facebook, SUBSCRIBE to this blog and VISIT us at www.dc-aya.org.
DC Alliance of Youth Advocates is committed to ensuring all DC youth have access to the resources they need to be successful, self-sustaining adults. To learn more about our mission and issue areas visit: www.dc-aya.org.
For more on youth issues in DC you can FOLLOW us on Twitter, LIKE us on Facebook, SUBSCRIBE to this blog and VISIT us at www.dc-aya.org.
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