Know the Issues

Know the Issues

In America 7 young people become homeless each minute.
That is over 11,000 youth per day, and 4.2 million each year.

THE ISSUES

Many different factors contribute to youth homelessness, but some of our most vulnerable populations face greater risks and barriers that hinder their journey toward sustainable independence and a hope-filled future.

Lack of Affordable Housing

Young people experiencing homelessness are often ill-prepared to find and hold a job that can cover their housing costs. The lack of affordable housing greatly compounds this issue.

Human Trafficking

Nearly one in five of our residents are survivors of human trafficking. Children and youth experiencing homelessness are a prime target for human trafficking. Traffickers use violence, threats, deception and other manipulative tactics to trap millions of youth worldwide.

Income Inequality/Poverty

Children raised in poverty face a higher risk of homelessness. Without equitable resources, they can get swept up in a vicious cycle of hardship and significant social disadvantage.

Mental and Emotional Health

Homelessness takes an enormous toll-both physically and mentally-on young people. Each year, thousands of youth experiencing homelessness die on the streets due to illness, assault, or suicide.

Gaps in Foster Care

When young people age out of foster care and other child welfare services, they become susceptible to homelessness, human trafficking, and other threats to their well-being.

Racial Discrimination

Racial discrimination is a pipeline of youth homelessness. People of color experience homelessness at higher rates, largely due to long-standing structural racism that impacts education, housing, and other inequities.

Who It Affects

We serve all youth between the ages of 18-21 whose dreams have been disrupted by homelessness, human trafficking, trauma and other forms of oppression as a result of intergenerational poverty and systemic injustices. This is even more the case for young Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) and those who identify as LGBTQ, who face unique challenges associated with racism and prejudice.

0%
Youth identify as BIPOC
0%
Cope with mental health challenges
0%
History in foster care
0%
Domestic violence survivors
0%
Identify as LGBTQ
0%
Physical health issues
0%
Criminal justice history
0%
Report substance use
0%
Female youth we serve arrive pregnant

Young People of Color

Young people who are Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous experience homessles at higher rates, largely due to systemic and structural racism. Racism negatively impacts a young person’s sense of self and attempts to lock young people of color into low expectations for their lives. Two-thirds of Black and Hispanic youth attend schools with lower budgets that impact class size, teacher qualifications, and resources.

LGBTQ+ Youth

LGBTQ+ youth make up 40% of all youth facing homelessness, despite being only 7% of the total U.S. youth population.Once on the street, they face unique dangers and are disproportionately exposed to physical and sexual violence, and are particularly vulnerable to human trafficking. For many LGBTQ+ young people, homelessness begins with family rejection, followed by systematic exclusion from secure housing, healthcare, education, and job opportunities.

Aging Out of Foster Care

Nearly 1,100 young people age out of the Pennsylvania foster care system each year. Many are only 18 years old and still need support and services. Several studies show that without lifelong connection to a caring adult, these older youth are often left vulnerable to a host of adverse situations. Compared to other youth, those who age out of foster care are more likely to not have completed high school or received a GED, they often suffer from mental health challenges, many are unemployed and live in poverty, and nearly 40% become homeless.