ILIA Resources
Youth homelessness is a lot more common than we believe it to be. Homeless or unaccompanied youth may not always be residing on the streets or in homeless shelters. Homelessness can take varying forms and present itself in a variety of ways.
Youth homelessness is an especially delicate area considering age and the traumas many have undergone before and after becoming homeless. Unaccompanied youth are at greater danger for drug abuse, human trafficking, and other harm.
There are numerous triggers for youth homelessness or unaccompanied youth. According to the National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP), youth homelessness can be brought upon by physical or emotional abuse, financial instability, behavioral health, lack of social support, and involvement in the child welfare system.
One of the first solutions to ending youth homelessness is family reunification. Many homeless youths will eventually return back to their parent's homes and start rebuilding their lives. This is one of the most common practices and is actively encouraged by programs assisting the homeless youth population.