Services for Homeless Youth
 Though hard to document, it is estimated that there are around 2 million homeless youth in the United States. A report by the California Research Bureau, Voices from the Street, published the results of 208 interviews with currently and formerly homeless youth across the state. Half had spent over two years without stable housing. The interviewers were themselves homeless or formerly homeless youth and their questions focused on their peers’ experiences, the services they need, and the changes they would like to see happen in policy or law.
The report documents that although approximately half of these youth feel less secure on the streets than they did at home, almost 40 percent said they felt safer since leaving. Interviewees stated that this was “primarily because they were out of unsafe homes, no longer being abused, or were away from family members” (p.4). In the words of one 17-year-old female:
I would change the law that says when cops find a runaway they bring them back to their parents. Usually the parents are abusing the kid and that’s why they’re a runaway. Cops should send a kid to a teen shelter (p.27).
Despite their past and present situations, over two-thirds believed they were mentally healthy. However, one in five did not consider themselves to be mentally healthy due to trauma experiences, drug use, and/or a specific mental diagnosis. Most (60 percent) had received a form of mental health treatment at some point in their lives – however, several of them stated that these services ended abruptly for unclear reasons, leaving them without the support they needed:
I went through therapy for a year and a half and then (the foster care system) had to cut me off because they felt like I was going to be co-dependent to my therapist. I think it was more that they didn’t want to continue spending the money on me seeing someone….
Although the majority of these youth used a variety of services available to them, close to half reported an experience that made them not want to return to seek services. They reported being treated poorly or rudely. One 17-year-old male stated “I was mistreated, like I chose to be homeless” (p.98). Some stated that “excessive bureaucracy” (p. 7) prevented them from using services. Others reported poor shelter conditions or conflicts with other service users.
Overall, these youth wished that services for them would increase and that law enforcement would stop criminalizing them for trying to get by. They also hoped that services would do more than just meet their immediate survival needs and that someone would offer services to “help them move towards independence and stability” (p.7).
I think they should have a place for all the homeless people, try to help them, try to let them get a job or something – teach them how their life can change. – Female, 18, p.133
Questions for Discussion:
- Does it surprise you that most of these youth feel mentally healthy?
- What does the fact that 40 percent of homeless youth would rather live on the streets than in their homes say about their situation?
- Should many of the activities associated with being homeless (e.g., squatting, begging), be criminalized?
- What can we do to best serve the needs of homeless youth?
- What kinds of experiences have you had with transition programs that help homeless youth achieve “independence and stability”?
- Are such programs available in your area?
Your thoughts…
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