When a young person becomes homeless, where do they go? Finding a shelter to stay in may be challenging for those experiencing youth homelessness. An individual may be too young to enter a traditional adult shelter. In addition, adult shelters may be very intimidating to someone in their teens. If they’re under 18, young people may fear child welfare finding them. And many shelters are simply too full.
Instead of shelter, many young people live on the street or “couch surf” for a while. They may even return home and leave again, repeating the cycle of youth homelessness. For about 73 percent of youth, homelessness lasts more than a month.
Sleeping on the street is often a last-resort option. In fact, 72 percent of people who wind up sleeping rough had stayed temporarily with others while unstably housed. But because homeless definitions vary, many young people struggling in this in-between stage aren’t eligible for support.
Dangers of Youth Homelessness
As you might imagine, living on the streets puts young people at risk for many issues:
- Assault and other kinds of violent victimization
- Labor and sex trafficking
- Pregnancy
- Suicide
- Physical health problems
- Not obtaining a high school diploma/GED
A University of California study confirmed that the longer young adults spend unsheltered, the worse their health tends to be. Sixty-nine percent indicate having mental health difficulties. Youth experiencing homelessness are at high risk of substance or alcohol abuse, usually as a response to the stress of homelessness rather than the reason they became homeless in the first place.
Education plays an important role in homelessness among young people. Youth without a high school degree are 4.5 times more likely to become homeless than students who complete high school. However, homelessness puts students at grave risk of not completing their high school education.
Fortunately, the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act requires public schools work with communities for the benefit of homeless youth. This federal law aims to ensure students who are homeless can access and stay in school, no matter where they sleep. In fact, every U.S. school district must have a designated “McKinney-Vento liaison” to help students experiencing homelessness. They may coordinate transportation, connect students to academic help, and figure out ways for them to have what they need to be successful in school (e.g., counseling, food, clothing, supplies, etc.).
