YOUTH HOMELESSNESS

Behind the face of every homeless young person is a heartbreaking story – one often filled with trauma, heartbreak, and more challenges than many of us face in a lifetime.

The youth we serve are not simply runaway kids - they are young individuals needing to feel safe, loved, and encouraged. They need guidance & hope. 

At KIC-IT we want to be a safe place for any youth experiencing homelessness. 

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"The first step toward change is awareness."

- Nathaniel Branden

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The average age of homelessness in Indiana is 7 yrs of age. 

Young adults with children are the fastest growing segment of homelessness in Indiana.

Couch surfing & motel living is the most common form of homelessness in Johnson County.

 

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• In the United States, 20,000 kids are forced into prostitution by human trafficking networks every year.

• More than 25% of former foster children become homeless within two to four years of leaving the system.

• 50% of youth aging out of foster care & juvenile justice systems will be homeless within six months because they are unprepared to live independently and have limited education & no social support.

• 40% of homeless youth had been sexually abused compared to 1-3% of the general youth population

• About 80% of homeless youth (aged 12-21) use drugs/alcohol to deal with traumatic experiences & abuse.

•  40% of homeless teens identify as LGBT.

• Family rejection on the basis of sexual orientation & gender identity was the most frequently cited factor contributing to LGBT homelessness (46%).

• Over 50% of young people in shelters & on the streets report that their parents told them to leave or knew they were leaving and didn't care.

• Almost 40% of the homeless in the United States are under 18.

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• Each year, 4.2 million youth & young adults experience homelessness, of which 700,000 are unaccompanied minors, meaning they are not accompanied by a parent/guardian.

• On any given night, approximately 41,000 unaccompanied youth ages 13-25 experience homelessness.

• 57% of homeless kids spend at least one day every month without food.

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