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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.