NCJ Number
137045
Date Published
1992
Length
3 pages
Annotation
The director of a Michigan program that provides shelters and support services for runaway and homeless children and youth ages 10 through 17 urges Congress to reauthorize the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act and the Transitional Living Program that is part of the Act.
Abstract
The Sanctuary, Inc. administers two shelters and many support services for young people in Royal Oak, Mich. Its programs focus on shelter, transitional living, and drug abuse prevention. The agency receives 300 requests for help through the transitional living program alone, but is able to serve only 100 young people each year. Youth are referred by adult emergency shelters, basic centers for runaways, school personnel, and many other sources. The agency maintains close working relationships with physicians, religious institutions, businesses, adult homeless shelters, runaway shelters, and other service organizations to help youth obtain the needed services. If Sanctuary provided services to all requesting services and paid direct care staff more than $6.50 per hour, its services would cost $800,000 more each year than the $800,000 they now do. Nevertheless, its programs achieve major savings in welfare, corrections, mental health, and law enforcement expenditures. Therefore, Congress should provide funding for shelter, hotline, transitional services, and other needed services.