Youth Homelessness
A Story in Numbers
As of 2021, there are more than 12,000 homeless youth ages 18-24 in California
More than 36% are located in the San Francisco Bay Area. That's 4422 kids
(San Francisco, Santa Clara, Alameda and Santa Cruz counties)
72% of young people who slept on the street or in shelters also couch surfed
Couch Surfing: "Crashing" at a friend's house for a short, limited time
73% experienced a homelessness episode lasting more than a month
Why do Youth Become Homeless?
Source: California Coalition for Youth
Young people run away from home due to abuse or neglect,
family member's alcohol or drug addiction, pregnancy, and rejection over sexual orientation
Many youth in foster care become unhoused when they transition out without the support and opportunities for housing and employment
In California, 1 in 4 emancipated youth are unhoused
LGBTQ+
Our Most At-Risk Youth
Sources: San Francisco Youth Homeless Count and Survey Comprehensive Report
Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago
LGBTQ+ Youth are 2.2 times more likely to become unhoused
46% of street youth in San Francisco identify as LGBTQ+
LGBTQ+ youth endured especially high levels of adversity among youth experiencing homelessness
Source: Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago
One Person's Story - Baylee
Source: Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago
Baylee's Pathway Through Homelessness
When Baylee is 11, her mother commits suicide
Baylee leaves foster care to live with her Dad
Baylee is kicked out of her Dad's house
Baylee's Dad signs papers for shelter
Sources:
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Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago https://www.chapinhall.org/voices-of-youth-count-graphics/
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kidsdata.org - Unaccompanied Homeless Youth (Point-in-Time Count), by Age Group and Shelter Status (2020) https://www.kidsdata.org/topic/1839/homeless-youth-pit/bar#fmt=2329&loc=2,127,265,59,370,364&tf=110&pdist=7&ch=1388,1327&sort=val
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California Coalition for Youth https://calyouth.org/advocacy-policy/californias-homeless-youth/
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San Francisco Youth Homeless Count and Survey Comprehensive Report (2019) https://hsh.sfgov.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/2019HIRDReport_SanFranciscoYOUTH_FinalDraft-1.pdf
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National Coalition for the Homeless https://nationalhomeless.org/issues/youth/