What it Takes: Reaching Housing Stability for Youth
Imagine a future where all young people had a safe and stable home.
Roughly half of adults experiencing homelessness in the United States first experienced it as a young person. Today, at least 4.2 million young people experience homelessness each year, with LGBTQ+, Black, Latino, and Indigenous youth being at an especially high risk.
Here’s the good news: we can change what’s possible for young people if we work together.
It takes community leaders, youth advocates, policymakers, schools, and committed funders collaborating to find and implement tailored solutions.
That’s exactly what happened in Washington. Over six years, 10,000 fewer young people experienced housing instability in the Evergreen State.
Ending homelessness is possible. It starts with preventing youth homelessness.
What it Takes
Data-driven approaches to youth homelessness aren’t just possible, they’re already working.
There are ways to help every young person and community thrive. We just have to pursue them. Watch this video to see how.
What We’ve Learned
We’re seeing significant, lasting results in our housing stability for youth work in Washington. What we’ve learned can provide a useful framework to address youth housing issues nationwide.
Inside-outside strategies are critical
Systems are made up of people, and in order to change these systems, we need deep partnership between government, funders, providers, advocates, and young people. An inside-outside strategy ensures decision-makers work on priorities, interventions, and solutions with young people.
Prevention efforts work
Preventing youth from experiencing homelessness by building supports within communities, schools, and public systems is working. Thanks to concerted policy efforts, we’re seeing more young people exiting public systems find and stay in stable housing.
Student success matters
The connection between academic success and effective efforts to address housing instability is clear. Washington has witnessed a substantial increase in graduation rates for students experiencing homelessness by providing targeted supports.
Crisis response is non-negotiable
Ending youth homelessness starts with actionable, tailored data-driven strategies and supports. Thanks to cross-sector and regional coordination, every single county in our state, barring two, is served by OHY or receives federal Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) funding.
Learn More
Washington’s ‘one of a kind’ response to addressing unaccompanied youth and young adult homelessness was covered by The Seattle Times last year. Read more below.
The progress we’ve made to prevent and end youth homelessness in Washington is outlined in A Way Home Washington’s Yes to Yes report. Learn more about the efforts of young people, community leaders and organizations who shaped this work.
Get Involved Today
We don’t need to just imagine a future where all young people have a safe and stable home. With your help, we can build it—together. Explore the progress partners have made possible at the local, state, and national levels and discover how you can get involved.