How Homelessness Can Begin: Concerning Youth HOPE Month

A person sits on their own in an outdoor concrete setting.

In 1978, New York became the first state in the nation to pass its own Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA), modeled on federal legislation passed in 1974. The RHYA recognizes that young people under the age of 25 years-old who are experiencing homelessness and those that have run away from home need specialized shelter and services outside of the adult shelter system to meet their needs.

Every November, Youth HOPE (Homeless Youth, Outreach, Prevention, Education) Month shines a light on the countless number of youth that are without a safe and stable home, and highlights the need for solutions targeted to dismantling the harmful policies and systematic barriers that cause too many young people across New York, and the nation, to experience more severe long term consequences.

In 2024, 43,457 runaway and homeless youth and young adults received services at DYCD funded crisis, transitional individual living support programs, drop-in and street outreach programs. That’s why this month, the Coalition for the Homeless joins organizations nationwide to emphasize the importance of early intervention and support networks, focusing on reducing the root causes of homelessness and displacement for individuals of all ages and backgrounds.

First, let’s understand why some young people experience homelessness.

The reasons young people become homeless or leave their homes vary widely. From economic challenges to family conflicts, health crises, or discrimination, young people face multiple, often compounding, factors that push them into precarious situations that can manifest in the decision to run away or be ejected from their homes.

LGBTQ+ youth, for instance, may feel compelled to leave home due to family rejection or hostile environments. Other youth, who may be from unstable home environments, might see running away as an escape from domestic conflicts. This includes situations where parents struggle with substance abuse or where there’s ongoing family discord. For these young people, the uncertainty of the streets sometimes feels safer than the predictable chaos at home.

Students facing severe academic pressure or bullying at school may view running away as a means to escape overwhelming stress. The combination of academic expectations, peer pressure, and social media influence can create an environment that feels insurmountable to young people who are still developing coping mechanisms.

Individuals experiencing mental health challenges often struggle to communicate their needs effectively. When depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues go unaddressed or misunderstood, some people may feel that removing themselves from their current situation is the only solution.

Economic hardship within families can also play a significant role. Some may be told to leave because their families no longer have the means to care for them, while others may believe that by running away, they’re reducing their family’s financial burden. Regardless, once they are on their own, they face additional hardships and barriers in their search for better opportunities or resources that will provide the stability they lacked at home.

What are the solutions?

Understanding these various factors is crucial for prevention. It is important to recognize that running away is rarely a sudden decision but often the culmination of long-term struggles and feelings of helplessness. Creating open dialogue, establishing support systems, and providing resources before situations reach a crisis point are essential steps in prevention.

For youth who are already experiencing homelessness, it is critical that we ensure that they have immediate access to shelter and support, where they can receive age-appropriate services. In addition to those resources identified below, unhoused youth need a pathway out of homelessness. In cases where family reunification is not an option, these pathways include increasing access to, and the availability of, housing vouchers and other permanent housing resources.

At the Coalition, while we do not work with significant numbers of runaway and homeless youth, our purpose as an organization has always been to develop and implement humane, cost-effective strategies to end mass homelessness in New York City. Our clients of all ages come to us from a range of different backgrounds, and we do what we can to help. Our advocacy team believes we have a commitment to creating safe spaces and comprehensive support for individuals experiencing homelessness and as such, we partner with our community, working towards establishing pathways out of homelessness and poverty.

We believe everyone deserves safety, stability, and a place to call home. Our programs are designed to meet the needs of all individuals, including runaway and homeless youth, and others facing discrimination or exclusion. This month and beyond, we are committed to building a supportive network that addresses homelessness through inclusive services and comprehensive advocacy.

Resources for Runaways

Resources for transgender and gender non-conforming individuals: https://www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/get-help/help-with-something-else/transgender-and-homeless/

DYCD Palm Card:
https://www.nyc.gov/site/dycd/services/runaway-homeless-youth.page

NYC’s plan to prevent and end youth homelessness:
https://www.nyc.gov/assets/home/downloads/pdf/press-releases/2022/NYC-Community-Plan-DIGITAL.pdf

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