Youth Homelessness

Overview

The number of Americans currently experiencing homelessness, as well as the demographics of this population have changed dramatically in the last 30 years. Families, children, and unaccompanied youth who have experienced or are experiencing homelessness have emerged as a rapidly growing and especially vulnerable sub-population. Children and youth living in shelters or other systems face significant barriers to appropriate physical,emotional and educational development. These negative effects are often more extreme for young people who are homeless and no longer connected to their family of origin.

For a young person who has exited or has been "kicked out" of their home, healthy and productive activities such as: succeeding in school, obtaining employment and contributing to one's community become especially difficult. DCAYA's Youth Homelessness Committee works to ensure that homeless and unstably housed youth in the District receive appropriate services, prevention and supports. For more information contact Senior Policy Analysts Maggie Riden.

Recent News and Events from the Committee Are Available Below:

News and Events

Challenge Councilmembers to #InvestInYouth

We’re inviting you to join DCAYA on May 1^st for our Call to Action Campaign. Our goal is to have 5,000 people reach out via phone calls, emails, facebook, or twitter #InvestInYouth to each councilmember to tell our representatives we want to see smart investments in DC Youth.

ED Maggie Riden and Members Testify at the Child and Family Services Agency Performance Oversight Hearing

Maggie Riden along with a handful of youth advocates, testified at the February 26th Child and Family Services Agency Performance Oversight Hearing. Maggie testified on behalf of youth who formally recieved services from the DC foster care system and are now classified as homeless.

"In essence, our child and family welfare system continues to be a pipeline into homelessness and instability for hundreds of youth each year."

ED Maggie Riden Presents on Youth Homelessness at the ICH

DCAYA Executive Director Maggie Riden presented DCAYA's past study From the Streets to Stability along with recent data on homeless youth to the Interagency Council on Homelessness on February 19th.

Click here to view the full powerpoint presentation.

DCPS Releases Chart on DC Homeless Student Enrollment

The following chart, provided to DCAYA by DC Public Schools, maps out the number of homeless youth enrolled in DC public schools.

Click HERE to view the chart.

LGBTQ Homeless Youth Act of 2012

DC Council’s Committee on Human Services convened the first half of a public hearing the LGBTQ Homeless Youth Act, a piece of legislation recently introduced by Councilmember Cheh seeking to amend the Human Services Reform Act to better understand the issue of homelessness among LGBTQ youth, and to enhance the system of supports to meet the needs of these vulnerable young people. Copies of select witness testimonies are below:

Join us for National Homeless Youth Awareness Month!

November is National Homeless Youth Awareness Month and DCAYA has lots of ways for YOU to get involved!

Every year, as many as 7,354 youth will experience at least one night of homelessness in the District.Currently, there is not enough shelter/housing for youth experiencing homelessness to meet the growing demand in the District.We know that creating more housing opportunities for youth and young parents can prevent long term disconnection, the initiation of risk-related behaviors, and prevent adult homelessness. Some simple things YOU can do:

DCAYA to Co-Host One City Summer Debrief

The DC Alliance of Youth Advocates (DC-AYA) in concert with the DC Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation (CYITC) and National Summer Learning Association (NSLA) will co-host the One City Summer Community Conversation and Debrief on September 27th, 2012 from 10:00-11:30am at The Hill Center at the Old Naval Hospital.

Youth Homelessness Report Released

The DC Alliance of Youth Advocates (DCAYA), a coalition of more than 120 youth-serving organizations, today released the first study on youth homelessness in the District. The study,From the Streets to Stability: A study of youth homelessness in the District of Columbia, was completed over the course of two weeks in mid-March by DCAYA Senior Policy Analyst Maggie Riden and a team of volunteers.

2011 Homeless and Unstably Housed Youth Survey Lauded by Chairman Graham

Yesterday afternoon at the Committee on Human Services Public Oversight Hearing on the 2011 Homeless Services Amendment Act, Committee Chair Jim Graham reacted to the preliminary findings of DCAYA’s and the Inter-agency Council on Homelessness’ 2011 Homeless and Unstably Housed Youth Study with praise and admiration for the hard work advocates for

DCAYA Releases Preliminary Findings from 2011 Homeless and Unstably Housed Youth Survey

Between March 7th and March 21st, at over 70 sites across the District, the DC Alliance of Youth Advocates surveyed 490 unaccompanied homeless or unstably housed youth and young adults between the ages of 12-24. The preliminary findings are availble in PDF format here.