Youth

About 50,000 youth in the U.S. sleep on the street for six months or more. Homeless youth face unique developmental challenges and vulnerability.

Though the Alliance estimates that as many as 50,000 youth sleep on the streets in the United States, the prevalence and extent of youth homelessness is largely unknown. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the problem is real and growing, but national data is scarce.

A large contributor to youth homelessness is discharge from state institutions. Without a home, family support, or other resources, homeless youth are often locked up because they are without supervision and arrested for “status” offenses, such as running away or breaking curfew. In addition, as youth age out of the foster care system or are released from juvenile detention, they may lack support systems and opportunities for work and housing. In fact, 25 percent of former foster youth nationwide reported that they had been homeless at least one night within two-and-a-half to four years after exiting foster care.

Moreover, the existing homeless assistance system is largely designed for adults. Local nonprofit organizations lack the capacity to offer early intervention and prevention or residential stability to the majority of youth who need it. Shelters, housing projects, and other assistance providers often do not understand the needs of homeless youth and may lack the resources to provide the necessary interventions.

Spotlight

Solutions Brief  |  August 10, 2006
This issue brief reviews the key issues surrounding youth homelessness, including causes and characteristics of homeless youth. It also contains an introductory explanation of the youth housing continuum, a development model for stable and supportive housing for young adults and policy implications regarding youth homelessness.

Library Resources

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Federal Policy Brief  |  June 1, 2010
| The Alliance has prepared draft comments on HUD's proposed rule to change the definition of "homeless" as part of the HEARTH Act. The proposed rule was published in April and final comments are due to HUD by June 21.
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Solutions Brief  |  November 23, 2009
This issue brief is jointly published by members of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Coalition to raise awareness around reentry services nationally. It outlines the concept of reentry services in theory and practice, offers a review of federal policy previously enacted to support reentry, suggests opportunities for improvements in public policy, and reviews promising initiatives.
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Solutions Brief  |  October 30, 2009
Homeless youth surviving day-to-day on the streets are at constant risk of solicitation and sexual exploitation. Homeless youth are far more likely to be physically and sexually victimized than their peers who are housed, and they are more likely to experience repeated episodes of sexual assaults. This publication reviews the research and practice implications for community-based services.
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Federal Policy Brief  |  August 12, 2009
Access a variety of resources regarding a national youth housing policy agenda, including information on federal funding, youth housing proposals, and other documents. This resource also includes a number of youth housing resources, including information on the spectrum of youth housing and other topics. Also included are a external links to useful resources.
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Solutions Brief  |  April 10, 2009
This two-page brief provides an overview of the prevalence and experience of LGBTQ youth, causal factors, and risks to LGBTQ youth while homeless. It also highlights a reform agenda to end homelessness for LGBTQ youth and makes best practice recommendations for youth-serving professionals, case workers, and advocates, for administrators and supervisors, and for residential services.