Phone: (609) 586-9092 | Fax: (609) 586-6573
Megann Anderson, Executive Director [email]
Katie Ronollo, Program Director [email]
The New Jersey Homeless Youth Act (NJHYA) focuses on the needs of homeless youth and provides funds for expanding services to this vulnerable population. Youth advocates from throughout New Jersey came together to help craft a law that would give kids in crisis the "right" to seek safety from the streets. The "New Jersey Homeless Youth Act" (NJHYA) emerged and was adopted by the New Jersey legislature then signed into law by Governor Whitman. New Jersey has now become the 21st state to adopt such a law. Mirrored after the federal "Runaway and Homeless Youth Act", the "New Jersey Homeless Youth Act" (NJHYA) provides youth the ability to access shelters (basic centers) without a court order. The law provides $1 million annually and allows for shelters (basic centers), transitional living programs and street outreach programs to be funded.
Runaway and Homeless Youth Published Reports
Bridges to Independence
The Garden State Coalition for Youth and Family Concerns, 2001
Many Faces, No Voice
The Garden State Coalition for Youth and Family Concerns, 1995
"The NJ Alliance for Children, Youth and Families creates a vehicle for us as leaders to learn about important state and federal changes that affect our ability to care for our children and to keep our agencies fiscally solvent."
NJACYF is...
a statewide advocacy organization representing human service agencies committed to providing quality care to children, youth and families.
