There is a significant shortage of short-term crisis housing designated for unaccompanied youth, presenting obstacles to reducing youth homelessness. Several specific youth populations experiencing homelessness encounter unique challenges, including LGBTQ+, youth of color, unaccompanied minors and youth involved in justice or child welfare, and pregnant and parenting minors.
Evidence demonstrates it is critical to implement intervention as urgently as possible. On average, fifty percent (50%) of chronically homeless adults report being homeless between 18 and 24 years old. Moreover, every additional day of waiting between assessment and housing placement is associated with a 2% increase in a youth’s likelihood of returning to homelessness after entering a housing program.