Primary Causes Of Youth Homelessness

Introduction

Youth homelessness has profound consequences reaching well beyond individual youth and their immediate families. Research suggests that as many as 1.6 million young people are living unsupervised on the streets, in abandoned buildings, with friends or with strangers at some point during the year. When youth leave their homes, and enter the homeless population, they are in jeopardy of engaging in anti-social and risky behaviors, as well as becoming one of the most severely victimized groups in our society. Homeless youth are at a higher risk for physical abuse, sexual exploitation, mental health disabilities, substance abuse, and death. It is estimated that 5,000 unaccompanied youth die each year because of assault, illness,
The primary reason youth consistently state for their homelessness is family conflict. The second leading cause of youth homelessness is correlated to the high proportion of homeless youth who have been in foster care. Additionally, there is growing evidence suggesting that many homeless youths spent the night in juvenile detention (Bahr, 2013). Finding effective ways to address the causes of homelessness is critical in the campaign to prevent youth homelessness. To compile and synthesize the most current information on promising strategies to end youth homelessness, a review was conducted of the literature on youth homelessness that included studies, articles, reports and publications from academic researchers, government and youth serving agencies. Understanding this population’s characteristics in the context of social theory can help to inform the development of effective policies and practices to address youth
Homeless youth often remain homeless despite organizations and others who offer services. Homeless youth often do not trust the motivations of these agencies, family members or outreach workers. At the same time, those who seek to reconnect homeless youth may lack trust in homeless youths’ motivations as well as lack the relevant information necessary to integrate them into their programs. Expanding long-term housing options and providing supportive services such as food, clothing and counseling are examples of approaches that can help homeless youth. By creating housing programs that respond to the diverse needs of homeless youth, there would be a means to address those in group homes, residential treatment, host homes, shared homes, youth shelters, and community-based transitional living programs. It is also important to note that youth housing programs are more cost-effective than alternative out-of-home placements such as juvenile corrections facilities, treatment centers or jail. By fostering collaboration between programs and across agencies to ensure that young people's needs are met, homeless youth will have access to services that will help them regain stability in their lives. If homeless youth are provided with access to