Bill Overview
Title: Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2022
Description: This bill reauthorizes through FY2027 and expands programs for runaway, homeless, and disconnected youth, including resources and services to support youth victims of human trafficking and youth at risk of being trafficked.
Sponsors: Rep. Yarmuth, John A. [D-KY-3]
Target Audience
Population: Runaway, homeless, and disconnected youth, including those at risk of trafficking globally
Estimated Size: 4200000
- The bill targets runaway, homeless, and disconnected youth.
- According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, there are approximately 4.2 million young people in the U.S. who experience a form of homelessness every year.
- The bill also targets youth victims of human trafficking and those at risk of being trafficked.
- According to the International Labour Organization, globally, there are estimated to be millions of human trafficking victims, a significant portion of whom are youth.
Reasoning
- The policy aims to support a significant part of the 4.2 million young people experiencing homelessness annually in the U.S. by providing resources and services, including those at risk of trafficking.
- The budget over 10 years amounts to $8.55 billion, which suggests a significant, though not all-encompassing, reach regarding the target population.
- Not all runaway, homeless, or disconnected youth will experience a uniform impact from the policy, as resources might be primarily allocated to the most at-risk populations.
- A commonness score is used to weigh how typical each kind of interviewee is within the affected population.
- The policy's short-term effect might be limited by budget and implementation barriers and would likely evolve over time as programs develop.
Simulated Interviews
High School Student (New York, NY)
Age: 17 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy sounds promising because it's really hard to find help when you're a kid.
- Sometimes I feel like there are no options, so extra support would be amazing.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Unemployed (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 19 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any program that helps kids like me get permanent housing sounds good.
- I really need stable housing so I can focus on getting a job.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Student (Chicago, IL)
Age: 15 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 2
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could help me find a safe place to stay and someone to talk to.
- I hope they'll focus on making places that are actually safe and understanding.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Part-time barista (Seattle, WA)
Age: 21 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think expanded services can help a lot of people in the same situation I was.
- If these programs include job training or counseling, that would be incredibly useful.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Student (Austin, TX)
Age: 16 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Programs that offer safe housing and understand LGBTQ+ issues are greatly needed.
- It's hard to feel hopeful about my future, but knowing someone's advocating for us helps.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Full-time job seeker (Miami, FL)
Age: 23 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Support systems tailored for trafficking survivors can significantly impact my ability to rebuild my life.
- I hope such policies carry long-term support plans.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Agricultural worker (Rural areas, Kansas)
Age: 25 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The focus on rural areas might get overlooked, but they're needed.
- Such policies must include rural-specific outreach and transportation assistance.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
High School Graduate (Boston, MA)
Age: 18 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Eviction is a huge worry, so housing support would make a big difference.
- I worry these funds won't reach kids like me before it's too late.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Media intern (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 20 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies that address both housing and mental health will be life-changing.
- I hope these programs are easy to access and provide immediate support.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Construction Apprentice (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope the policy includes mentoring and support to help me continue growing professionally.
- Stability came after a long struggle, and outreach programs need to reach people before they lose hope.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $750000000 (Low: $650000000, High: $850000000)
Year 2: $775000000 (Low: $675000000, High: $875000000)
Year 3: $800000000 (Low: $700000000, High: $900000000)
Year 5: $850000000 (Low: $750000000, High: $950000000)
Year 10: $950000000 (Low: $850000000, High: $1050000000)
Year 100: $1500000000 (Low: $1250000000, High: $1750000000)
Key Considerations
- The broad target population of 4.2 million U.S. youth implies a significant reach and potential impact.
- Preventive measures for trafficking and homelessness can reduce future social service costs, though these savings are hard to quantify in the short term.
- Expansion of services includes necessary increases in staffing, training, and program resources.
- Potential long-term benefits of the policy include enhanced social stability and individual economic participation of beneficiaries.