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Homelessness among young people is a serious
issue. Homeless youth, sometimes referred to
as unaccompanied youth, are individuals who
lack parental, foster or institutional care.
The National Runaway Switchboard estimates
that on any given night there are
approximately 1.3 million homeless youth
living unsupervised on the streets, in
abandoned buildings, with friends or with
strangers. Homeless youth are at a higher
risk for physical abuse, sexual
exploitation, mental health disabilities,
substance abuse, and death. It is estimated
that 5,000 unaccompanied youth die each year
as a result of assault, illness, or suicide.
Studies Have Shown That:One
in seven young people between the ages of 10
and 18 will run away
- Youth age 12 to 17 are more at risk
of homelessness than adults
- 75 percent of runaways are female
- Estimates of the number of pregnant
homeless girls are between 6 and 22
percent
- Between 20 and 40 percent of
homeless youth identify as Gay, Lesbian,
Bisexual, Transgender or Questioning
(GLBTQ)
- 46 percent of runaway and homeless
youth reported being physically abused
- 38 percent reported being
emotionally abused and 17 percent
reported being forced into unwanted
sexual activity by a family or household
member
- 75 percent of homeless or runaway
youth have dropped out or will drop out
of school
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