Solutions to Youth Homelessness
One in 30 people ages 13-17 experience homelessness each year in the United States. Invisible People TV often reports on the difficulties of determining the exact number of homeless individuals, especially young people who may be staying with friends or families. We may never truly know how many young people are doing it though.
Perhaps you know someone who has been homeless, or maybe you’ve experienced it yourself. Learn how you can help homeless youth.
Unaccompanied homeless youth need many of the same things that other homeless people need:
- safe and affordable housing
- jobs that pay a living wage
- access to school and other educational and job training programs
- health and mental health care
Given the proper support, homeless youth may be able to reunite with their family. However, one of the most significant factors contributing to youth homelessness is ongoing and unresolved family conflict or traumatic family dynamics. This often makes returning home impossible.
Others may need places to live on their own, with roommates, or in “host homes” as well as age-appropriate services that support their independence. These systems help them get back on their feet and act as a substitute for the family support that many of us are fortunate to have.
In the past, local, state, and federal agencies have collaborated on efforts to end youth homelessness through initiatives like “100-Day Challenges.” These campaigns set certain milestones to complete within 100 days, such as connecting unhoused youth with landlords, hosting roommate “Meet and Greets,” or transitioning youth from encampment areas into safe housing.
However, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), the federal agency tasked with coordinating many of these efforts, has been scaled back considerably as part of the Trump administration’s push for “efficiency.”
Now, more than ever, individuals and communities must lead the charge.
Help Homeless Youth Locally
Here are four suggestions to help homeless youth in your community:
1) Be an ally.
If you know someone who is struggling at home and is thinking about running away, encourage them to get some support. The National Runaway Safeline is a confidential resource to help young people who are considering leaving home or who already have. Their website is 1800runaway.org and their phone number is 1-800-Runaway. You may also reach out to your school counselor or search the homeless education liaison directory to find the person in each school district responsible for helping homeless students. You may also want to share this guide, developed by the True Colors Fund.
2) Find youth-specific services.
In many communities, youth-specific services are hard to find. Find an organization in your community that works to support young people or people living in poverty. Ask them what kinds of things they are doing to support young people. If they do have services, offer to volunteer. If they don’t, share some information with them about young people and homelessness (like this blog post) and encourage them to develop a deeper understanding of how to help young people.
3) Break down stigma for LGBTQ people.
Young people who identify as LGBTQ are 120 percent more likely to become homeless than their non-LGBTQ peers. Support and affirm LGBTQ people’s identities. Support policies in your school and other places in your community that do the same. Stand up against bullying. For more information, visit here.
4) Advocate for change.
Federal policy may be shifting, but that doesn’t mean we’re powerless. Every one of us still has the power to influence state and local policies and community-based initiatives. Decision-makers won’t act on homelessness unless they see it matters to the people they represent. Keep pushing for Housing First through Housing Now! rallies, speak out against NIMBYism online, and support housing or youth advocacy groups by following, liking and sharing their content.
Learn more—read “4 Ways to Help Homeless People.”
