Curry, Smith-Wade-El to Rally for Homeless Youth at Capitol
Rep. Gina H. Curry November 14, 2025 | 10:58 AM
HARRISBURG, Nov. 14 – State Reps. Gina H. Curry, D-Delaware, and Ismail Smith-Wade-El, D-Lancaster, will hold two events on Nov. 18 in the Capitol Media Center at the state Capitol Complex in Harrisburg to raise awareness about youth homelessness in Pennsylvania.
The events are coordinated with the anticipated House vote on H.R. 337, jointly introduced by the representatives, which would designate Nov. 17–21, 2025, as “Pennsylvania Education for Youth Experiencing Homelessness Awareness Week” and Nov. 21, 2025, as “Red Shirt Day” in Pennsylvania.
Event Details for Nov. 18
- 1 p.m. News Conference. Remarks are expected from Curry and Smith-Wade-El, as well as representatives from
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- The School District of Lancaster, Families in Transition Team
- Valley Youth House
- The Homeless Children’s Education Fund
- 3 p.m. Fireside Chat. Panelists from the above-named organizations will discuss strategies and community investments needed to address youth homelessness in greater detail. The conversation will be moderated by Sonia Pitzi, director of Lincoln Intermediate Unit 12, New Oxford.
According to Smith-Wade-El and Curry, the population of homeless youth in Pennsylvania has more than doubled over the past 10 years, rising from just over 19,000 students to more than 50,000 today. Much of this increase is attributed to limited resources for youth, including lack of access to support services, difficulty obtaining identification, and family instability.
Media coverage is invited for both events.
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