Youth Homelessness
Chapin Hall provides national leadership on what works to prevent and end youth homelessness. Our integrated, multi-component research provides a deep understanding of the conditions that lead to homelessness for young people. Our partners range from government agencies, to local service providers, to the affected youth themselves. Together, we are working to end youth homelessness.
Focus Areas
Our Work Focuses On
This current and wide-ranging collection of research reports on youth homelessness address the prevalence of youth homelessness in the United States, populations that are disproportionately affected, rural homelessness and more.
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Chapin Hall works with local jurisdictions to understand, prevent, and respond to youth homelessness. Learn more about our youth count toolkit and place-based work.
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Spotlight
Youth Homelessness
Spotlight
Direct Cash Transfers Programs Can Help Youth Sustainably Exit Homelessness
This report suggests ways to design a smart, responsive direct cash transfers programs to support youth experiencing homelessness.
2020
New Opportunities: A National Strategy to Prevent Homelessness
We can prevent and end homelessness. This report outlines a national strategy to do that.
2024
First Steps Initiative Brings Effective Interventions to Young Families Experiencing Housing Insecurity
The authors evaluated a project that implemented interventions to improve the health of housing-insecure young families.
2024
Youth Homelessness Resources
Explore Chapin Hall's resources on ending youth homelessness, including tool kits, recorded press conferences and webinars, and more.
Explore Youth Homelessness Resources
Experts
Youth Homelessness
Experts
Recent Content
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Youth Homelessness
Recent Content
News
Former USICH Director Joins Chapin Hall as Senior Advisor
Jeff Olivet, the outgoing executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, is joining Chapin Hall as a senior advisor, where he will help...
January 15, 2025
Project
Youth-Driven Supportive Programming and Direct Cash Transfers
A series of briefs describing and evaluating the implementation of the Cash Plus model in New York City and San Francisco.
October 2, 2024
Project
Chapin Hall Resources Address Racial Bias in Research, Systems
How Chapin Hall works to address bias in research and advance racial equity in systems.
June 17, 2024
Report
First Steps Initiative Brings Effective Interventions to Young Families Experiencing Housing Insecurity
The authors evaluated a project that implemented interventions to improve the health of housing-insecure young families.
2024
Report
New Opportunities: A National Strategy to Prevent Homelessness
We can prevent and end homelessness. This report outlines a national strategy to do that.
2024
Project
Cook County Youth Experiencing Homelessness Share their Stories
Youth experiencing housing instability in Cook County share their stories, point to solutions.
November 6, 2023
Research
Supporting Families of Those Reentering from Incarceration with Cash, Wraparound Supports
This brief summarizes the Kinship Reentry Program approach, client perceptions of the program, and its readiness for future evaluation.
2023
Project
Strengthening the Village
These publications explore policies and programs for unstably housed youth to build permanent connections and, when appropriate, stabilize positive informal...
April 25, 2023
Report
Home Visiting Services Help Homeless Families Navigate Children’s Health and Development
This report examines Start Early's Home Visiting for Homeless Families project and its progress toward increasing access to home visiting services among...
2022
Report
Youth of Color Disproportionately Impacted by Housing Instability
This brief consolidates Chapin Hall research about race as a factor in the likelihood that teens and young adults will experience housing instability.
2021
News
Public-Private Partnership Launches the First Direct Cash Transfer Study for Addressing Young Adult Homelessness
Chapin Hall and partners launch initiative to empower young people, increase their access to safe and stable housing, and improve evidence on what works
June 17, 2021
Report
Millions of Young People are Struggling to Meet Basic Needs during COVID-19, with Large Racial Disparities
This study examines previously untold stories of the pandemic among young people, focusing particularly on food and housing insecurity, mental health, and race.
2021
Report
Direct Cash Transfers Programs Can Help Youth Sustainably Exit Homelessness
This report suggests ways to design a smart, responsive direct cash transfers programs to support youth experiencing homelessness.
2020
Report
Rural Communities Need Funding and Support to Address Rural Youth Homelessness
This qualitative study explores the challenges that rural communities in the U.S. face in addressing youth homelessness.
2020
News
A Season of Crisis
Chapin Hall issues statement on race, health, justice and our collective commitment to transforming systems.
June 11, 2020
Report
Alameda County’s Youth Transitions Partnership Program: A Promising Model for Supporting Transition-Age Youth in Foster Care
This brief describes the Youth Transitions Partnership (YTP) model, the results of the formative evaluation undertaken by Chapin Hall researchers, and the...
2020
News
Chapin Hall Releases Three-Year Strategic Plan with Focus on Child Welfare, Community Capacity and Youth Homelessness
Chapin Hall's strategic plan covers projected work from 2019 through 2022.
November 13, 2019
Report
Homelessness and Education Systems Can Work Together to Improve Youth Outcomes
This brief highlights opportunities for the education and homelessness systems to work together to ensure that youth are supported in their living situations,...
2019
Report
Comprehensive Evidence Review of Programs and Practices Addressing Youth Homelessness Can Now Inform Decision Making
This brief summarizes research-based evidence on the effectiveness of interventions to prevent youth homelessness.
2019
Report
Stakeholders and Researchers Recommend Federal Actions to End Youth Homelessness
This paper outlines 63 recommendations for federal actions needed by a range of federal agencies and Congress to end youth homelessness.
2019
Report
Interrupting the Pathway from Foster Care to Homelessness
This brief highlights actions that child welfare systems can take to prevent young people who have experienced foster care from becoming homeless.
2019
News
Chapin Hall’s Dr. Matthew Morton Connects Research to Policy at Congressional Hearing
Chapin Hall’s growing body of research on youth homelessness has direct implications for federal policy--connections that were clarified in congressional...
July 16, 2019
Report
Development of Standard Set of Measures Would Improve Outcomes for Youth Experiencing Homelessness
This report recommends outcomes and measures associated with core outcome areas for youth experiencing homelessness.
2019
Report
Young People Experience Significant Disruption and Loss Both Before and During Their Homelessness
This brief elevates the voices of youth as a call to adults to rethink and redouble their efforts in ending youth homelessness.
2019
News
New York City Youth Homelessness Assessment Identifies Prevention and Response Improvements
Chapin Hall released New York City’s first rapid, mixed-methods assessment of the system of services and supports available to youth experiencing homelessness.
May 9, 2019
Report
Assessment of New York City’s Homelessness System Reveals Opportunities and Challenges to Meet Youth’s Needs
In this report, Chapin Hall researchers detail New York City’s first rapid, mixed-methods assessment of the services and supports available to youth...
2019
Research Collection
Five-year Housing Demonstration Sites Face Diverse Challenges while Providing Some Benefits to Families
In 2012, the Children’s Bureau of the Administration on Children, Youth, and Families in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provided an...
2019
Report
Supportive Housing Interventions in Connecticut Found to Decrease Foster Care Placements
This report examines the effectiveness of a "housing first" approach to support families in the child welfare system.
2019
Report
Housing Availability an Obstacle to Supportive Housing for San Francisco Families
Findings from a study of a "housing first" approach to reduce the need for foster care and increase housing stability indicate an approach is needed that...
2019
News
Journal symposium on youth homelessness published
Journal symposium compiles latest research on youth homelessness to inform community actions.
November 28, 2018
Report
Better, Systematic Crisis Response Needed to Help Homeless Young People
This analysis examined the relationship between risk assessment scores for young people ages 15 to 24, related services offered, and outcomes. Researchers...
2018
Report
Rural Counties Lack Services for Youth Experiencing Homelessness
Unprecedented data about rural youth homelessness shows similar prevalence to urban youth experiencing homelessness.
2018
News
DC Convening on Youth Experiencing Homelessness Draws Key Policymakers
Leaders convene to apply research to national policy agenda.
October 18, 2018
Report
Youth Counts Provide Critical Information About the Number and Characteristics of Youth Experiencing Homelessness
Communities can only make progress toward preventing and ending homelessness among youth if they have data on the size and composition of the local population...
2018
Report
Central Florida Count Identifies Service Needs for Youth Experiencing Homelessness
The Central Florida Youth Count provided an estimate of the size of the homeless youth population and its characteristics.
2018
Report
A Substantial Number of Youth Experiencing Homelessness are Pregnant or Parenting
New research finds that pregnancy and parenthood are common among youth experiencing homelessness and that relatively few homeless providers serve minor...
2018
News
LGBTQ Young Adults Experience Homelessness at More Than Twice the Rate of Non-LGBTQ Peers
Research shows LGBTQ youth experience homelessness at more than twice the rate as peers, and experience higher levels of adversity before and during...
April 25, 2018
Report
LGBTQ Young Adults Experience Homelessness at More than Twice the Rate of Peers
Study finds LGBTQ youth experience homelessness at more than double the rate of their peers, and experience higher levels of adversity before and during...
2018
News
One in 10 Young Adults Experience Homelessness During One Year
Groundbreaking Chapin Hall study shows high levels of homelessness for teens and young adults.
November 15, 2017
News
Video: Findings Released on National Estimates of Youth Homelessness in the U.S.
Short video reviews high-level findings of national estimates of youth experiencing homelessness.
November 15, 2017
Report
One in 10 Young Adults Experience Homelessness During One Year
In this groundbreaking study, the prevalence of youth homelessness was found to be one in 10 among adults ages 18-25 and one in 30 among youth ages 13-17. The...
2017
Report
Housing Options for Young Adults in Extended Foster Care Vary Across and Within States
This paper synthesizes a convening about housing options for young adults in extended federally funded foster care.
2017
News
Video: Voices of Youth Count initiative launched
Video provides an overview of the Voices of Youth Count initiative at its launch.
June 25, 2015
Research
Extended Foster Care Delays but Does Not Prevent Homelessness
One of the challenges faced by young people aging out of foster care is finding a safe and affordable place to live. Before the Fostering Connections to Success...
2010
Report
Educating Homeless Children in Chicago: A Case Study of Children in the Family Regeneration Program
This study aimed to better understand the educational experiences of children in Chicago Public Schools whose families were chronically and episodically...
2008
Report
Youth Who Run Away from Out-of-Home Care
Given child protective services’ responsibility to provide stability for children in their care, running away from out-of-home care is an event of great...
2005
Project
Maximizing Impact of Direct Cash Transfers to Young People
This policy toolkit examines tax, public benefits, and educational aid implications for young people participating in Direct Cash Transfer programs.
November 22, 2022
Project
A Key Connection: Economic Stability and Family Well-being
Providing economic and concrete supports is an important component of preventing child abuse and neglect and reducing involvement with child welfare. This page...
June 1, 2022
Project
New Opportunities: The Youth Homelessness Prevention Initiative
We cannot end youth homelessness until we prevent it. That’s why Chapin Hall has launched a four-phase initiative to continue momentum and action to prevent...
May 17, 2022
Project
Making a Difference in Chicago
Chapin Hall is uniquely committed to applying our expertise, tools, and experience in our home city.
April 14, 2022
Project
Activate Produces Reproductive Health Resources for Health Care Providers
Chapin Hall, Child Trends, and Healthy Teen Network partner to develop, promote research-based sexual and reproductive health resources.
June 23, 2021
Project
Chapin Hall Builds National Understanding of Pandemic’s Impact on Families
Chapin Hall is providing rigorous research and analysis to assess the impact of the pandemic on families, and we have developed evidence-based policy and...
November 11, 2020
Project
The Role of Cash in Empowering Young People Who Experience Homelessness
Chapin Hall and Point Source Youth are working with young people with lived experience to develop a pilot cash transfer program. This involves providing regular...
January 15, 2020
Project
The Upstream Project
Chapin Hall is partnering with school systems and local organizations in a small number of U.S. communities to adapt, pilot, and evaluate the “Upstream” model...
October 16, 2019
Project
Taking Action on Youth Homelessness in San Diego
Chapin Hall works with partners to build a coordinated, community response to end youth homelessness in San Diego.
January 30, 2019
Project
Bringing Evidence to New York City’s Efforts to End Youth Homelessness
Chapin Hall leads assessment of New York City's programs to serve youth experiencing homelessness.
October 24, 2018
Project
Voices of Youth Count
Voices of Youth Count is a national Chapin Hall initiative to bring actionable evidence to preventing and ending youth homelessness. Chapin Hall is conducting...
March 19, 2018
Project
Conducting a Youth Count: A Toolkit
Conducting a Youth Count: A Toolkit provides all of the materials, resources, and guidelines you need to conduct a youth count. The toolkit applies the Voices...
October 15, 2017
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