Homelessness is a major public health crisis facing millions of youths across the United States. As many as 3.5 million young adults ages 18 to 25 experience homelessness in the US annually.
A new policy brief from the National Network for Youth, notes that up to 40% of youth experiencing homelessness identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ+). They are also disproportionately youth of color.
Homelessness is often the result of multiple factors including historical and present systemic racism, discrimination, and socio-economic inequities, including:
- economic circumstances like poverty and housing insecurity;
- systemic racism, discrimination, and violence;
- mental health and substance use disorders; and
- harmful effects of the child welfare and juvenile court system.
Download the full report here.
