This blog post is the last post in our series summarizing the findings from our new
report, Without a Home and More: Youth Count 2015, and provides policy
recommendations for preventing and ending youth homelessness based on the
characteristics of homeless youth, causes of youth homelessness, characteristics of
youth homelessness, assistance needed by homeless youth, and obstacles to
assistance and housing for homeless youth.

Evaluation and analysis of youth homelessness in several locations has identified several areas, such as education and employment, and several subpopulations, such as youth experiencing family or domestic violence or family conflict, youth with homeless parents or who are pregnant or parenting, youth with foster care or justice experience, youth with medical or mental health needs, youth with immigration or legal needs, and youth with eligibility or accessibility restrictions, wherein further investment and assistance can address the characteristics and causes of youth homelessness and several types of assistance, such as expanding eligibility and accessibility for assistance, providing case management, providing move-in financial assistance, and providing legal assistance, that can address the obstacles that homeless youth experience when trying to obtain assistance to prevent and end youth homelessness.

One policy recommendation is to provide the opportunity for homeless youth to
finish high school and enroll in college, community college, or a trade school.  Some homeless youth had less than a high school diploma and were not enrolled in school and most had not completed any college and many reported financial causes for their homelessness and a current need for education.  With more education and acquiring a major in a career field or a trade and related experience and access to higher education, homeless youth will be able to afford housing and other living expenses.

Another policy recommendation is to expand job training, employment placement, and appropriate supportive services for youth with disabilities, pregnant or parenting youth, and other homeless youth to increase the percent of homeless youth who are employed part-time or full-time.  Between two-thirds and ninety-eight percent of the homeless youth surveyed were between the ages of 18 to 24, which is double or triple the percent who were currently employed and many reported a current need for job training and employment services.  With job training, job placement, and supportive services, homeless youth will be able to afford housing and other living expenses.

A third policy recommendation is to provide more resources to prevent family/domestic violence or family conflict and opportunities for youth escaping family/domestic violence or family conflict to live independently and with the support of other caring individuals.  A large percent of homeless youth report experiencing family/domestic violence or family conflict, that it caused or contributed to their homelessness, and that they do not have any adults who care about them, give them job or school advice, or provide emotional support and some homeless youth reported homosexual sexual orientation or identified as transgender and that sexual identity or sexual orientation caused or contributed to their homelessness.  With more resources to prevent family/domestic violence and family
conflict, fewer youth may leave home and become homeless in order to escape
family/domestic violence and family conflict and with short-term and medium-term housing assistance and appropriate supportive services, homeless youth escaping family/domestic violence and family conflict can lie independently and obtain any necessary mentoring to be able to continue education and build a more stable
future.

Another policy recommendation is to provide housing assistance and other assistance for youth with homeless parents and for pregnant or parenting youth.  Many homeless youth reported that their parents were homeless and some reported that homelessness of their parents  or family was a cause of their own homelessness and some homeless youth in every location surveyed with many homeless youth in some locations reported that they were pregnant or parenting and some reported that pregnancy was the cause of their homelessness.  By providing housing assistance and other assistance, such as education, employment, or childcare assistance to homeless youth and their family members, homeless youth and their family members will be able to obtain housing and stay in intact families.

A fifth policy recommendation is to provide assistance to youth who spend time in foster care or the justice system or age out of the foster care or justice system to secure housing, education, and/or employment once they leave or age out of the foster care or justice system.  Many homeless youth had spent time in the foster care or justice system, some homeless youth had aged out of the foster care or justice system, some or many homeless youth reported aging out of or leaving foster care or the justice system caused their homelessness, a few homeless youth had aged out of the foster care or justice system with nowhere to go when they aged out of the foster care or justice system and were on the streets.  By providing housing, education, and/or employment assistance once youth leave or age out of the foster care or justice system, homeless youth leaving or aging out of the foster care or justice system will be able to retain housing and a more stable future.

Another policy recommendation is to provide assistance to youth with medical or mental health needs with health care, counseling, treatment, housing, education, and/or employment.  Some homeless youth reported a physical or mental disability, chronic health problem, or substance use, some homeless youth reported they became homeless immediately after leaving a hospital or treatment facility, some homeless youth reported that medical or mental health caused or contributed to their homelessness, some homeless youth diagnosed with a disability were not currently accessing services, some homeless youth have reported a need for health care services, and some homeless youth with a physical or mental issue were keeping them from holding a job or steady housing.  With improved access to treatment and other services, youth who have medical or mental health or substance use problems can avoid homelessness and obtain housing and homeless youth with physical or mental disabilities or prior substance use may need assistance to secure housing, education, and/or employment.

A seventh policy recommendation is to provide documentation, immigration, and
legal assistance to youth without documentation, who need immigration assistance, or legal assistance.  Some homeless youth reported they needed an identification card or birth certificate, a few reported they needed immigration assistance, and a few reported they needed legal help or legal services.  By assisting homeless youth in obtaining inaccessible, lost, stolen, or misplaced identification documents or other assistance, homeless youth will be able to obtain housing, education, and employment.

Another policy recommendation is to provide assistance with differing eligibility and accessibility requirements to allow homeless youth with different needs to obtain
assistance.  Some homeless youth reported being unable to receive assistance
because they did not qualify or they did not think they were eligible, some homeless youth reported they were turned down or their benefits were cut off, and some homeless youth reported they were unable to obtain assistance because there were too many rules, they could not access or find services for their age, they could not stay with their children, or they did not like the shelter rules.  By changing their age and other eligibility determinations for assistance and providing housing  that accommodates youth with different needs such as parenting youth, homeless youth will have increased access to housing and other assistance.

Another policy recommendation is to provide case management to homeless youth applying for assistance to reduce impediments to obtaining assistance due to eligibility, accessibility, lack of communication, lack of documentation, language barriers, and transportation difficulties.  Some homeless youth reported being unable to obtain assistance because of eligibility, accessibility, lack of communication, lack of identification or documentation, lack of a permanent address, language barriers, and lack of transportation.  By providing case management to homeless youth applying for assistance to assist with eligibility, communication, obtaining documentation, and transportation, homeless youth should have increased access to assistance.

A tenth policy recommendation is to provide financial assistance to homeless youth with financial impediments to obtaining housing such as lack of money for moving costs, application fees, and security deposits.  Some homeless youth reported being unable to obtain permanent housing because they did not have enough income and some homeless youth reported the lacked money for moving costs and transportation.  By providing financial assistance for moving costs, application fees, and security deposits to homeless youth who are employed or have money for some housing costs, more homeless youth may be able to obtain permanent housing.

A final policy recommendation is to provide legal assistance to homeless youth with legal impediments to obtaining a job or housing such as credit history, criminal record, and eviction record.  Some homeless youth reported being unable to obtain employment or permanent housing because of a credit history, criminal record, or eviction record.  By providing legal assistance to challenge or expunge the record or to challenge the denial of the housing to homeless youth with a credit history, criminal record, or eviction record, more homeless youth may be able to obtain employment and housing.