Teenagers and Young Adults on Their Own and Without a Place To Call Home – A Growing Problem That Needs a Smart Solution

Today's blog is a guest post from Ingrid M. Löfgren, Skadden Fellow/Attorney with the Homeless Persons Representation Project, Inc.

The Maryland General Assembly is currently considering SB 764/HB 823, a bill that would establish a task force to study the housing and supportive services needs of “unaccompanied homeless youth,” or young people between the ages of 14 and 25 who lack stable housing and are not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian. This bill represents a critical first step toward the development of statewide strategies to ensure that these young people transition to a stable and self-sufficient adulthood.

Homelessness among unaccompanied youth in Maryland has increased dramatically in recent years. The Maryland State Department of Education identified more than 14,000 homeless students during the 2008-09 school year, up from approximately 10,600 only two years earlier, and school systems in almost every jurisdiction report unaccompanied homeless students. Consistent with this trend, the Johns Hopkins Center for Adolescent Health identified 640 unaccompanied homeless youth in Baltimore in 2011 (of which 115 were aged 14-18), a 50 percent increase from 2009. Prince George’s County identified 185 unaccompanied homeless youth during its first count in 2012. Although more data is needed to accurately determine the scope of the problem, unaccompanied youth homelessness clearly is a persistent and growing issue in Maryland.

Unaccompanied homeless youth are extremely vulnerable and have unique needs that are not appropriately addressed by systems designed for adults. Although poverty, lack of affordable housing, unemployment, low education levels, and other factors that contribute to adult homelessness also play a role in the occurrence and duration of homelessness among young people, family breakdown and systems failure are the primary causes of homelessness for most unaccompanied youth. Many of these young people become homeless as a result of severe conflict in their homes; physical or sexual abuse; rejection by their families due to sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, or mental health issues; or because they have aged out of the foster care system without the skills and resources necessary to live independently. They need a range of housing options and supportive services that take into account their developmental stage, lack of experience living independently and permanent connections, and traumatic experiences before and during homelessness.

Homelessness has serious consequences for unaccompanied youth and society. While living in shelters or on the streets, unaccompanied homeless youth are disproportionately likely to become victims of crime, suffer from physical and mental health issues, commit suicide, engage in risky sexual behaviors, drop out of school, and turn to delinquency as a means of survival. Without access to housing and supportive services, homeless youth experience poor educational, health, and workforce outcomes, leaving them ill-equipped to transition to stable and self-sufficient adulthood.

Passage of SB 764/HB 823 is a critical step toward ensuring that unaccompanied youth have access to a comprehensive continuum of developmentally-appropriate housing and supportive services, the key to preventing and ending their homelessness. The task force created by the proposed legislation will bring together for the first time representatives from key executive agencies, service providers, advocates, and youth to study the housing and supportive services needs of unaccompanied homeless youth in Maryland. The task force’s recommendations regarding legislation, policy initiatives, and budget priorities to meet these needs will greatly improve outcomes for some of Maryland’s most vulnerable young people.