Learn about the Issues
Each year, approximately 300 Rock County youth ages 14 to 21 are identified as unaccompanied and homeless, meaning they cannot live or live safely with a parent, legal guardian or relative. Not having a home is rarely a single issue for those experiencing homelessness, especially youth. Learn more about the many factors that contribute to youth homelessness and the issues that impact our youth’s daily lives.
Youth Homelessness
Chapin Hall of the University of Chicago released its first groundbreaking report on youth homelessness in the United States through its Voices of Youth Count (VoYC) initiative in 2017. The study was conducted over the course of a full year rather than a single night, making it the most comprehensive research to date on youth homelessness in the U.S.
Here is what we learned:
- More than 3.5 million young adults ages 18 to 25 experience a form of homelessness in the course of a year — that’s 1 of every 10 young adults.
- At least 700,000 adolescent minors ages 13 to 17 experience a form of homelessness in the course of a year — that’s 1 of every 30 adolescent minors.
- In total, at least 4.2 million young people experience a form of homelessness in a given year, from couch surfing to living on the streets.
- Youth homelessness affects urban and rural youth at similar levels.
Who is at the highest risk?
- Black youth face an 83% increased risk than their white peers.
- Hispanic youth face a 33% increased risk.
- LGBTQ youth were more than twice as likely to have experienced homelessness.
- Young parents—especially unmarried—had a three times higher risk than non-parenting peers.
- Youth with experiences of foster care, juvenile detention, jail, or prison.
- Youth who do not complete high school are 3.5 times more likely to experience homelessness than their peers who do graduate high school.
The Myth about 18
Many adults believe that turning 18 somehow equates to having the ability to live independently and support oneself. However, the majority of our homeless youth lack the experience, knowledge, skills, and/or support to be able to navigate adult systems. Many of our 18 to 20 year olds are still in high school. They have little or no work, credit or rental histories; lack access to reliable (or any) transportation; and lack financial literacy skills. While legally an adult, a youth who has not had the opportunity to learn key life skills is less likely to achieve self-sufficiency or sustain independent living.
Human Trafficking
Between 30-40% of the female youth we serve have experienced human trafficking.
Human trafficking is a criminal industry that generates an estimated $150 billion world-wide each year. Two main factors drive the spread of human trafficking: high profits and low risk. Homeless youth are prime targets for those looking to take advantage of their vulnerability. Why do human traffickers specifically target youth facing homelessness? These young people have no place to call home, no one to care for them, and often no one who will miss them. This makes them easier to lure in with promises of love, protection, food, and financial security. Survival sex also is a form of trafficking as victims are forced to trade a sexual act for basic needs.
Foster Care
1/3 of our youth have spent time in the foster care system, meaning there was a problem with violence, abuse, neglect or crisis in their home. 8% of them aged out of care and had nowhere to go.
When families are in crisis, children and youth who are removed for their protection often are placed with a loving foster family. For others, the child welfare system simply doesn’t work. When these youth age out of the system, they often are not equipped to navigate a successful path to independent living, leaving them at risk of homelessness, human trafficking, and other threats to their well-being.
According to the U.S. Administration for Children and Families (ACF), by age 21, at least 26% of young people who aged out of foster care in the United States experienced 1 or more periods of homelessness; a third lacked a high school diploma; and 25% had no health insurance. A quarter of these youth already had given birth to or fathered a child.
Family Conflict, Abuse & Neglect
60% of our youth have been physically and/or sexually abused; and 14% of our youth have been abandoned.
Instability and conflict often force youth from their homes before they are adults. Family experiences like child abuse and/or neglect, domestic violence, parental substance use, or conflict related to a youth’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression can lead to youth homelessness. Youth are ‘kicked out’ of their home or leave home because it is too dangerous to stay.
Health & Well-Being
Homelessness takes an enormous toll on young people’s physical, mental and emotional well-being. Youth may not have health insurance or the ability to access health care services. Their physical health care issues may go untreated, leading to worsening conditions and chronic illness. In addition, homeless youth often experience long-term food insecurity – meaning they do not have access to an adequate supply of nutritious, affordable food. Hunger and lack of nutrition can negatively impact developmental, behavioral, and psychological growth.
More than half of all young people in the U.S. express symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. Teens are particularly vulnerable as they are still developing cognitively, psychologically and emotionally. This is compounded even more for our youth who have experienced significant trauma, such as:
- Physical and/or sexual abuse or assault
- Neglect, rejection or abandonment
- Domestic violence
- Growing up chronically homeless
Youth experiencing homelessness often become disconnected and feel isolated. They may withdraw from their social networks and avoid seeking support to deal with their problems. This may be due to their denial of the problem(s), fear of not being believed or taken seriously, or concerns about confidentiality.
LGBTQ+
Project 16:49 is a safe space for all youth.
LGBTQ+ youth are more than twice as likely to experience homelessness as their non-LGBTQ+ peers. While LGBTQ+ youth represent only 7% of the total U.S. youth population, an estimated 40% of youth experiencing homelessness identify LGBTQ+. Black youth who identify as LGBTQ+, particularly young men, experience the highest rates of homelessness.
LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness also face a higher risk of assault, trauma, exchanging sex for basic needs, and early death than do other homeless youth.
Pregnant & Parenting Youth
About 44% of young women and 18% of young men, ages 18-25, who face homelessness report being a parent or pregnant. Homelessness is extremely traumatic for young families, often leading to serious and lifelong effects for the child and the parent. Young children are particularly vulnerable as the first five years of a child’s life are critical for brain development. Early experiences of homelessness place parents and children at a higher risk for a range of challenges, from pregnancy-related deaths, to chronic illness, to developmental delays, to repeated bouts of homelessness as they grow older.
Employment
Some youth are homeless because they are on their own and unable to afford housing due to unemployment or underemployment. Homeless youth often have difficulties finding and retaining a job because they still are in school, do not have access to reliable transportation, and/or lack the basic skills and guidance to properly prepare for and retain a job. Issues related to a lack of physical and/or mental health care also may be factors.
Affordable Housing
The lack of affordable housing is a barrier for moving youth from homelessness to sustainable independent living. Rock County rental vacancy rate is around 1% – whereas, the ideal rate for a healthy community is 8-10%.
According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, 6.5 million U.S. households spent more than 50% of their income on rent (the formula for affordability is not more than 30% for rent and utilities) and 4.4 million lived ‘doubled up’ (i.e., lived with family or friends) in 2017.
Young people who leave, are removed from, or are thrown out of their family homes face enormous housing challenges. They are expected to arrange stable, affordable housing from one day to the next. However, many are not prepared to find and hold a job that can cover their housing and other basic expenses. Many may still be dealing with the traumatic events surrounding their homelessness. Many are still in high school.
Racial Disparity
Youth of color experience homelessness at rates disproportionate to their share of the population. This is most reflected among black youth, who comprise 14% of the youth population, but 38% of youth experiencing homelessness.