YOU ARE ENOUGH.

BY NICOLE HEROUX WILLIAMS I PHOTOS BY NSP STUDIO

While statistics across the nation vary, upwards of 40-50% of young people are homeless within the first 18 -24 months. While many children do find stable housing and support within days or weeks of becoming homeless, others may need months or longer before they return home or find another permanent solution. And currently most larger cities are experiencing homelessness and housing crises.

Many youth and young adults are simply not equipped or ready to navigate life on their own. They are still developing physically and emotionally and young adults under 25 years have yet to fully reach their brain development when they experience homelessness.

They are less likely to complete their educational goals (especially higher education), develop general life skills, and obtain stable employment. On the street, youth can become victims of violence, struggle with mental health challenges, engage in substance use, and be forced to trade sex for basic needs.

As of September 2021 (the most recent data available), the number of homeless children in New York State was approximately 151,000; 104,000 outside of NYC. This is based on data from the National Center for Homeless Education which reported that NYS had the highest number of homeless youths in the United States for the 2019-2020 school year.

It’s important to note that this number may have changed since 2021, and that the COVID-19 pandemic has definitely further impacted the number of homeless children in help address youth homelessness.

Here are some suggestions:

Donate to organizations that support homeless youth. Many organizations provide shelter, food, and other resources for homeless youth. Donating money, food, clothing, or other items can help these organizations meet the needs of homeless youth in the community.

Volunteer with organizations that support homeless youth. Many organizations rely on volunteers to provide services to homeless youth. Volunteering can involve helping with food distribution, tutoring, mentoring, or other activities.

NYS and throughout the country. Additionally, measuring homelessness can be challenging, and there may be individuals who are homeless but not captured in official counts. Often youth are “couch surfing”, staying with friends, bouncing around between places so they are not considered officially homeless. Yet they often cannot meet their basic needs and require assistance with food, transportation, and money. There are many ways that the community can rally together and

Raise awareness about youth homelessness. Educate yourself and others about the challenges faced by homeless youth in your community. Share information of fundraisers or, host a community event or fundraiser, or write to local policymakers to advocate for change.

Advocate for policy changes to address youth homelessness. Support policies and initiatives that aim to prevent youth homelessness, such as increasing affordable housing options, expanding access to mental health

“The one piece of advice I’ve never forgotten is to remember that life is a journey. The path to success or a goal isn’t going to be linear.” and substance abuse services, and providing more funding for education and job training programs.

Offer support and resources to homeless youth directly. If you encounter homeless youth, provide them with resources such as shelter information, food, and clothing. If you feel comfortable, offer to help them find additional resources or connect them with local organizations that provide services to homeless youth.

Become a mentor. There are multiple programs in every community that provide training and resources to become a mentor for our youth adults and youth aging out of foster care and in need of support and guidance.

Overall, addressing youth homelessness requires a community-wide effort. By coming together to provide support and resources, we can help ensure that every young person has a safe and stable place to call home.

If you want to help, make a difference at a local level, but don’t know where to start – please reach out to Children

Awaiting Parents (CAP)! CAP has many ways you can help, and we can connect you to local, trusted community partners that assist in aiding the homeless as well. Contact us at 1.585.232.5110 or email us at info@capbook.org.

References: https://nche.ed.gov/ Runaway and Homeless Youth | Runaway and Homeless Youth | OCFS (ny.gov)