Judith Dittman CEO Second Story Youth Homelessness 101

Roadmap Who are unaccompanied youth? What options should a community make available? What programs exist at the federal level? Where are the gaps in your community?

PATHWAYS TO HOMELESSNESS FOR YOUTH Contributing Factors Youth Fall Through the Cracks of These Systems

YOUTH ARE UNIQUE Youth are still developing Enter homelessness with little to no work experience Often forced to leave their education prior to completion Experience high levels of victimization both before and while homeless Usually enter homelessness without ever having lived by themselves or being responsible for a household Often negotiating ongoing complicated relationships with their family

YOUTH-CENTRIC SYSTEM Health Care Housing Food Programs Targeted to Youth Housing Workforce Development Food I am not a child I am not an adult Education (K-12, higher ed) Services Income Linkages Between Systems

YOUTH-CENTRIC SYSTEM Youth-centric system to provide youth-appropriate housing and services that aims to: Prevent homelessness Decrease length of time youth are homeless Decrease reoccurrence of homelessness episodes

SERVICES FRAMEWORK Overall, a youth-centric community response should be guided by the following principles: Positive Youth Development Trauma-Informed Care Cultural Competence Client-Centered Care Strengths-Based Services

YOUTH-CENTRIC SYSTEM Aftercare Services Prevention Early & Crisis Intervention Longer-Term Housing with Support Services Aftercare Services

PREVENTION Roadmap Second Story Community Based Services Goals: Connect youth and families to services before a youth runs away or is ejected from their home Let them know services are available for shelter if they need them

EARLY & CRISIS INTERVENTION Roadmap Second Story Drop in Teen Center Second Story for Teens in Crisis (Emergency Shelter) Family engagement and reunification

LONGER-TERM STRATEGIES Roadmap Second Story for Young Mothers Second Story for Homeless Youth Rapid Rehousing for Transition Age Youth Youth-appropriate housing programs Case management (Re-) connection to education Workforce development Parenting Education

AFTERCARE SERVICES Roadmap Ongoing connection to services Follow up on safe and stable nature of exits Reconnection to services as needed Post-housing supports

OUTCOMES OF YOUTH-CENTRIC SYSTEM Stable Housing Permanent Connections to Caring and Supportive Adults Education, Training and Employment Health and Social-Emotional Well-Being Self Sufficiency OUTCOMES OF YOUTH-CENTRIC SYSTEM

What components of the Proposed System does your community have? What critical gaps exist in your community? How can these gaps be filled? Specific programs/resources Who in the community needs to be involved Community Assessment

Judith Dittman jdittman@second-story.org Follow Us www.second-story.org Facebook: Second Story ORG Twitter: @secondstoryorg

Youth Homelessness 101 Judith Dittman CEO Second Story