Chapin Hall

Dismantling the Unknown of Youth Homelessness Through Effective Counts

The Issue

Youth and young adult homelessness is a significant problem with serious human capital implications and marked by great disparities. In 2016, in fulfillment of Section 345 of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA), HUD and private philanthropy funded Chapin Hall to carry out the first and only national research and policy initiative on the prevalence and incidence of youth homelessness. Known as Voices of Youth Count (VoYC), this project produced data and evidence that have changed policy and practice for addressing youth homelessness. A global pandemic, stagnant wages, interruptions in educational attainment and a deepening housing crisis have exacerbated risk factors for youth homelessness. Carrying out the next national prevalence and incidence study is vital to informing resource allocations and making program decisions.

The Evidence

A National Estimate in 2018 provided the first snapshot of 12-month prevalence of youth homelessness in the U.S. for ages 13–25. Through survey research we learned that over the course of a year, about 1 in 30 youth ages 13 to 17 years of age and 1 in 10 youth ages 18 to 25 experienced some form of homelessness. The estimate also showed Black, Hispanic, Indigenous youth, and youth identifying as LGBTQ+ were at higher risk for homelessness, as were youth who were parents and did not have a high school diploma. Rates of youth homelessness were also similar in rural and nonrural areas.

In-depth interviews looked closer the experiences and viewpoints of youth experiencing homelessness across five diverse U.S. counties. Over half of the youth had their first experience of homelessness between the ages of 16 and 18. Interviews with youth also revealed that youth homelessness is not a single event but is preceded by complex social and familial challenges related to poverty, family conflict, and parental mental health.

A Systematic Review of evidence on the effectiveness of interventions to prevent and address youth homelessness revealed several interventions that can measurably reduce the incidence and prevalence of youth homelessness. The review also showed, though, a dearth of evidence around effective programs for housing stability and access to resources beyond crisis interventions.

The Way Forward

Chapin Hall policy recommendations on youth counts include:

1. Appropriate funds to support youth homelessness counts every three years: A commitment to funding a regular, national count like Voices of Youth Count would offer a significant contribution to the country’s efforts to prevent and end youth homelessness.
2. Update data collection tools (quantitative survey modules and qualitative data collection tools) to carry out an updated national count on youth homelessness. Refining current data collection tools will improve data capture on youth homelessness prevalence data for youth ages 13-25.
3. Pass the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act of 2023 to reauthorize funding for critical programs and support regular and reliable data collection.

Contact Information

Chapin Hall experts are available to speak to, testify, and submit testimony about this topic. They include: Executive Director Bryan Samuels and Policy Fellow Sarah Berger Gonzalez.

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