US Senator Calls On Federal Government To Provide More Funding For Youth Shelters

By Kim Glovas

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Government statistics show that 20,000 teenagers are homeless in Pennsylvania each year. Now, U.S. Senator Bob Casey is calling on the federal government to pass a bill that would commit more funding for youth homeless shelters.

Senator Casey wants $40 million to provide enough housing for teens who are homeless. John Ducoff is executive director of Covenant House which helped 2,500 young people last year. He says everyone must commit to fighting this.

"If we accept the challenge to focus on and commit to end youth homeless, we can help our young people become the next generation of entrepreneurs and artists and lawyers and doctors and nurses and social workers. If we don't, these young people could become the next generation of homeless adults," said Ducoff.

Casey says federal funding cuts have placed a burden on assistance programs and more money is needed to address youth homelessness.