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Bi-Partisan Resolution on Youth Homelessness Introduced
June 29, 2007
For Immediate Release

A week following the poignant personal testimony of Grammy-nominated singer Jewel and DeCario Whitfield before the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support, Chairman Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) announced that he and Ranking Republican Jerry Weller (R-IL) together have introduced a resolution aimed at raising awareness about youth homelessness in America.

As many as 2.8 million young Americans are living on the street and the resolution seeks to draw attention to the issue as a first step in finding solutions, and offering hope to these young people. On average, 13 homeless young Americans die every single day on the street.

"We know now that we cannot take for granted that every young American receives the love, care and attention they all need and desire, but we are not helpless to act and my fear is these young people will end up helpless and hopeless if we don't," McDermott said.

"The world knows Jewel as a phenomenally successful recording artist, but last week she was courageous enough to recount her experience of living in a car for over a year. Then, DeCario Whitfield shared his own heartrending story, and youth homelessness will never again be a faceless issue in America that affects someone else," McDermott said.

The resolution would designate the month of November as National Youth Homeless Awareness Month to recognize, support and encourage efforts on behalf of homeless young Americans.

"I believe the American people simply don't know that they probably pass a homeless young person on the street every day," McDermott said. "I believe as the American people find out more about this American tragedy, they will want us to do what every loving parent does for a child, that is, to step in with love and support, and give these young people reason to hope, reason to live."