Runaway and Homeless Youth Housing & Services Workshop National Alliance to End Homelessness Conference Washington, DC July 17, 2015 Deborah Shore, Executive Director, Sasha Bruce Youthwork & Chair, National Network for Youth
Summary Special Characteristics of Homeless Youth - Youth Are Different Than Adults What does Sasha Bruce do to respond - Pillars of our System - Housing Models What Else is Needed
Why Youth Become Homeless
Characteristics of Homeless Youth History of Abuse: - 40 to 60 percent of all homeless youth have experienced physical abuse - 17 and 35 percent have experienced sexual abuse Child Welfare Involved: - Up to one-third of youth aging out of foster care experience homelessness. - 21 to 53 percent of homeless youth have a history of placement in foster care Racial Disparities: - African Americans and Latinos are overrepresented in urban areas and American Indians in rural areas
Characteristics of Homeless Youth Disconnected from Schools: - Approximately half of homeless youth have not completed high school - Homeless youth are 87% more likely not to finish high school Criminal Justice Involved: - There is a two-way relationship between homelessness and criminal justice involvement Unemployed: - Just over half of youth ages 18-24 are currently employed, the lowest since 1948 Sexual Orientation and/or Gender Identity: - Up to 40 percent of homeless youth are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ)
Effects of Youth Homelessness Experience high rates of criminal victimization, including sexual exploitation, labor trafficking, assault and harassment At higher risk for life long health, behavioral and emotional problems High rates of depression and post-traumatic Stress Disorder Are more likely to become a chronically homeless adult Are more likely to become ensnared in the criminal justice system At higher risk of contracting HIV and/or STDS
Experiencing Homelessness: Youth Are Different Than Adults Are still developing physically, emotionally, psychologically, socially adults in progress Enter into homeless with little or no work experience Are often forced into leaving their education prior to completion Often enter homelessness with no rental history and without life skills such as: cooking, money management, housekeeping, job searching, etc. Youth encounter many barriers when trying to access what they need to survive, because of their age and legal rights
Runaway and Homeless Youth Programs Youth Enter Youth Enter Youth Enter Street Outreach Programs (SOP) Street-based education and outreach Access to emergency shelter Survival aid Treatment and counseling Crisis intervention Follow-up support Basic Center Programs (BCP) Up to 21 days of shelter for minors Food, clothing and medical care Individual, group and family counseling Crisis Intervention Recreation programs Aftercare services for youth after they leave the shelter Transitional / Supportive Living Programs (TLP) 16-24 year olds Safe, stable living accommodations for up to 22 months or longer: - Host-family homes - Group homes - Supervised apartments owned by the program or rented in the community Basic life skills building Educational opportunities Job attainment services Mental & physical health care Core Outcomes to Measures Success: 1. Stable Housing 2. Permanent Connections 3. Education, Training, and Employment 4. Health and Social- Emotional Well-Being
What we do at Sasha Bruce Street Outreach Family Counseling aimed at Family Strengthening Emergency Housing for Youth who are Under 18 and 12 to 24 Independent Living Programs 16 19 year old singles - Apartments 18 21 year old singles - Congregate 18 21 year old parents with one child - Congregate 18 24 year old parents and their children Scattered Site Permanent Supportive Housing
Our Results Youth Education:-75% of the youth entering our TLP program had dropped out before entering- 77% of those had a diploma, GED or were enrolled in college at exit Youth Employment:-85% of youth were not employed at entrance- 96% had jobs at exit and stayed employed at the six month follow up Stable Living: -85% of youth went to a stable living situation upon exit 10
Independent Living
What do we need A System imbedded with Positive Youth Development, Trauma Informed Care, Cultural Competence, Client centered Care and Strength Based Services A Continuum or a Spectrum of Services which meets the meets of each group of youth A system which is more than housing and supports education and training to create a pathway to self sufficiency
Special Considerations in a youth friendly system Youth who are parenting need extra support Youth especially younger youth appreciate living in congregate settings versus on their own Adult models like Rapid Re-housing models need adaptation so that adequate services and flexibility is built in Services to include job training and educational supports are particularly critical Time frames must be adapted to reasonable developmental expectations Critical Nature of things by HUD S Point in Time Count Last Year, ½ of all youth 12 24 were unsheltered! Most youth couch surf and we need to know how many youth this impacts so that the system can be properly scaled We need to assure the system is staffed with capacity to meet the complex needs of youth We need to be sure we have adequate resources so we can refer youth to the appropriate service All youth should be sheltered!!
What Works to End Youth Homelessness? What We Know NOW www.nn4youth.org/wp-content/uploads/2015-what-works-to-end-youth- Homlessness.pdf
Current Research on the Existing Service Structure for America s Homeless Youth A. Prevention and Outreach to Connect Youth to Services B. Drop-In Centers to Engage Youth and Link to Community Resources C. Shelter to Provide an Important First Step Off the Street D. Family Engagement and Interventions When Safe and Appropriate E. Youth-Appropriate Housing Programs to Build Independent Living Skills F. Case Management to Improve Wellness and Decision-Making G. Connection to Education to Increase Future Income Earning Capability H. Workforce Development to Enable Youth to Compete in the Job Market I. Culturally Competent Services J. Services That Respond to Survivors of Human Trafficking
17
Questions
Thank You
Deborah Shore, Executive Director, Sasha Bruce Youthwork & Chair, National Network for Youth www.sashabruce.org, dshore@sashabruce.org