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: Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]
Target Audience
Population: Runaway, homeless, and disconnected youth
Estimated Size: 1600000
- The bill targets runaway, homeless, and disconnected youth specifically, which includes both domestic and international populations of youth in these situations.
- Human trafficking is a global issue affecting millions of youth, not just in the United States but worldwide.
- According to various reports, there are millions of homeless youth globally who would fall under the categories targeted by the bill.
Reasoning
- The policy targets a specific demographic: runaway, homeless, and disconnected youth, estimated to be around 1.6 million in the U.S. Given the budget limitations, not everyone in this demographic will be impacted equally.
- We should consider variations in the level of impact: some youths may experience high benefits due to direct program access, while others might see no changes due to lack of awareness or accessibility.
- It is critical to evaluate both those who are directly impacted by the programs and those who may remain unaffected, serving as a control to understand the policy's effectiveness against the current baseline.
- The population includes diverse sub-groups with different challenges, such as differences between urban and rural youth experiences, varying levels of vulnerability, and differing access to existing support systems. This diversity must be reflected in the interviews.
Simulated Interviews
Student (New York, NY)
Age: 17 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've been struggling to find stable housing, but programs targeting people like me could really help me get on my feet.
- Access to resources and safe housing would greatly improve my mental and physical well-being.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 2 |
Unemployed (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 19 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 2
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I feel invisible a lot of the time. If this policy can provide consistent support, it might make a real difference.
- Trust is hard to come by, but having a stable support system would allow me to look forward to a better future.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 2 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Part-time worker (Chicago, IL)
Age: 21 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could expand programs like the one that's helping me now. More services are crucial.
- Expanding these programs can prevent others from going through similar experiences.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 4 |
High school student (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 16 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned about friends who might be at risk. Programs aimed at awareness and prevention would help our community.
- Ensuring information and support systems are available is crucial.
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 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Dropout (Seattle, WA)
Age: 18 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 2
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The most immediate needs are job training and housing; if this policy covers that, it's crucial.
- Access to better support could turn my life around if done right.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 2 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 2 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 2 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Student (Rural Kansas)
Age: 15 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Where I live, it's hard to even hear about available programs. The policy should focus on places like mine.
- Access to mental health resources would be beneficial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Restaurant worker (Miami, FL)
Age: 20 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Programs that support financial and emotional stability for people like me are vital.
- The bill could provide the needed safety net to support my family.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Construction worker (Salt Lake City, UT)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having experienced homelessness, I see the value in having these support systems in place for others.
- At this point, the policy might not directly affect me much, but it could have helped immensely in the past.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Technical apprentice (Austin, TX)
Age: 17 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Having a mentor really changed my path; I hope this policy funds more mentorship programs.
- Preventing trafficking and providing support is essential to help more people like me succeed.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 10 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Freelance artist (Portland, OR)
Age: 23 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- For many like me, stability comes late. More structured support earlier on would mean the world.
- The policy could change the trajectory for countless young people still in precarious situations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $450000000 (Low: $400000000, High: $500000000)
Year 2: $470000000 (Low: $420000000, High: $520000000)
Year 3: $490000000 (Low: $440000000, High: $540000000)
Year 5: $520000000 (Low: $470000000, High: $570000000)
Year 10: $570000000 (Low: $520000000, High: $620000000)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The effectiveness of programs will heavily influence the ultimate cost/benefit ratio, with more effective programs potentially leading to greater long-term savings.
- Scale and efficiency of implementation will affect costs; coordination with federal and local entities will be necessary.
- Continued monitoring and evaluation of the programs will be crucial in assessing impact and adjusting budget allocations.