YOUTH HOMELESSNESS

Behind the face of every homeless young person is a heartbreaking story – a boy abused by his alcoholic parent, a pregnant girl rejected by her guardian, a youth trying to escape gang membership or a life of forced prostitution.

The facts about youth homelessness are heartbreaking...they are not simply runaway kids -  the main cause of youth homelessness is physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse from guardians.

​

"The first step toward change is awareness."

- Nathaniel Branden

• 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.

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

• 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.

• 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.

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

• 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 self-medicate 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.