Report: Worcester’s Homeless Youth Population Remains Unchanged

Email to a friend Permalink

Thursday, April 03, 2014

GoLocalWorcester News Team

A new report released today shows, that despite some encouraging trends, the percent of homeless youth in Worcester is nearly identical to the prior year's survey. Conducted in October 2013, the "2013 Point-in-Time Survey of Youth and Young Adult Homelessness" has revealed similar trends to prior years. Factors driving youth homelessness include family conflict and instability, lack of stable income sources, a history of housing insecurity, and systems involvement.

Positive and negative trends

Although the homeless youth population did not decrease, the report, which was conducted by the Community Roundtable on Youth Homelessness in conjunction with the Compass Project and Clark University, did illustrate some encouraging trends.

“What we found most encouraging is that compared to previous years fewer homeless youth are relying on illegal means, such as panhandling and hustling, to earn money,” said Laurie Ross, Clark University, 2013 Point-in-Time Presentation. “Even more encouraging is that homeless youth are much more likely to report that they got the help they needed when they sought assistance for issues such as housing, education support, employment, food, and health care.”

As for what’s most disheartening about the report, Ross told GoLocal. “What is discouraging is that the percent of homeless youth remained pretty much the same as last year.”

Homeless youth by the numbers

2012 Snapshot

• 594 young people ages 13-25 responded to the survey.
• 94 (16%) respondents were identified as homeless.
• 66% homeless respondents were female.
• 27% homeless respondents were male and 2.2% homeless respondents were transgender. Gender was missing on roughly 5% of the surveys.
• 68% of homeless respondents identified as straight (78% of housed respondents identified as straight), 17% of homeless respondents identified as bisexual (8% of housed respondents) and 7% of homeless respondents identified as gay or lesbian (4% of housed respondents).
• Homeless respondents tended to be older than housed respondents. The average age of homeless respondents was 21 years, while the average age of housed respondents was 17 years.
• 45% of homeless youth left their homes by the age of 17. Seven homeless youth are still with their families; all of them are living in transitional housing or in shelter.
• The primary reasons homeless youth were not with their families were due to youth fighting with care givers (21%); the house being too small for everyone (20%); and youth wanting to leave (20%).
• More than double the number of homeless respondents had parents who had been homeless as compared to the housed respondents (34% vs. 16%).
• 37% of all respondents had at least one friend who was homeless. 121 (31%) housed respondents had at least one friend that was homeless.
• 3% of homeless respondents had served in the military.
• 32% of homeless respondents were born in Worcester and 48% have lived in Worcester for more than one year.

 

Moving forward

In order to effectively address youth homelessness, it is necessary to properly distinguish youth homelessness from adult homelessness, Ross told GoLocal.

“What needs to be done in Worcester is to continue to educate the community about youth homelessness,” said Ross. “In reality, youth homelessness looks quite different than chronic adult homelessness; however, if we don’t intervene early, people who have early homelessness experiences are more likely to become homeless as adults. Young people who are homeless need more support than just housing. They need what all young people need—a stable foundation on which to build the skills to navigate healthy adulthood.”

In terms of legislation, Ross told GoLocal that there is a bill in the House that looks to address the homeless youth situation.

“Representative James O’Day is a sponsor of legislation House Bill 135 which seeks to improve and expand services for homeless youth,” said Ross. “This legislation needs to be funded to prevent the harmful effects of early homelessness on young people.

To read the fifth annual 2013 Point-in-Time Survey of Youth and Young Adult Homelessness in its entirety, click here.

---

Related Slideshow: Central MA Unemployment Rates #72 - #1

Related Articles

• How You Can Help Worcester’s Estimated 1,600 Homeless
• NEW: Veteran Homelessness Down 26 Percent in MA
• Worcester Shelters Score $250,000 From State to Fight Homelessness
• Investigation: State to Spend $61 Million Putting Homeless in Hotels
• NEW: Worcester Homeless Vets To Get Boost From $1.5 Million Awarded to MA
• “Homeless to Harvard” Subject Liz Murray Coming To Worcester
• John Monfredo: Help Needed to Address Homeless in Our Schools
• Providence Center’s James Gillen Named Homeless Provider of the Year
• 122 Children at Sullivan Middle School are Homeless
• Local Girl Scouts Collect Food and Backpacks for Their Homeless Peers
• Unequal Funding Crippling Mass. Homeless Shelters
• Crossroads Event Draws 350+ Women to Help Homeless Women
• NEW: Crossroads RI Releases New Report on Women and Homelessness
• Veterans Inc. Feeding Homeless Vets During Annual Holiday Harvest
• Grace Ross: Redefining “Homelessness” Won’t Solve the Problem
• NEW: MA Grants Worcester $240,500 to Help Employ Homeless
• Worcester Claims 2,565 Students “Homeless”
• Grace Ross: Should Lauren Be Homeless?
• NEW: Patrick Announces Funds To Combat Homelessness
• Worcester College Students Fighting Homelessness
• Hope in the City: High Fashion for Homelessness
• NEW: Rep. O’Day Honored for Fight Against Homelessness
• Worcester Homeless: Out of Shelters, Into Housing

Enjoy this post? Share it with others.

Email to a friend Permalink