Homeless YouthHomeless youth often find themselves in desperate situations lacking clear options. Without a roof over their heads, they are often unemployable, making it harder to look out for themselves and giving them a lower chance to make it out of homelessness or poverty. In fact, problems for youth have increased so much that one in four people standing in a soup kitchen line are children. Causes of homelessness among youth often fall into two inter-related categories; unstable family situations and economic hardships. In fragile family situations, many youths will become homeless after years of physical or sexual abuse, strained relationships, family problems, and parental neglect. In situations of economic hardship, poverty and lack of housing can lead to a continued pattern for homeless youth who have not seen any other lifestyle.
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FACTS
- Around 40,799 unaccompanied homeless youth, or around 7% of the homeless population
- 9,439 parents and 12,152 children in families where the parent is a child
- People between 18-24 account for 88% of homeless youth while children under 18 account for around 12% or 4,789 people
- 55% of homeless youth are unsheltered with younger unaccompanied children more likely to be unsheltered
- Transgender youth are 2% of the homeless youth population
- Around 60% of homeless youth are boys
- Around 49% are white, 34% are black, Multiracial youth are 10% Native American are 4%, Asain and Pacific Islander are 3%