Wilder Research Update on homelessness in Minnesota from the 2012 survey UROC event: Homeless Students in Higher Education June 2013

 Point in time survey, every 3 years  Trained volunteer interviewers On October 25, 2012:  Interviews in >250 shelters and programs  Outreach locations in >50 cities, towns, and outlying areas  Not a survey of all homeless youth -- primarily those connected to youth-serving agencies About the statewide study wilderresearch.org

One-night study counts wilderresearch.org

Children with their parents 35% Unaccompanied minors age % Unaccompanied young adults age % Adult males age 22 or older 29% Adult females age 22 or older 25%

Unaccompanied minors (17 and under) Young adults (18-21)1,0411,005 Adults (22-54)4,5854,708 Older adults (55 and over) Children (<18) with parents3,2513,546 Total9,654*10,214* Changes since 2009 *Totals include homeless people (of unknown age) in detox on the night of the survey (24 in 2009 and 32 in 2012). wilderresearch.org

 Increase in numbers mainly accounted for by –Children with their parents –Older adults (age 55+)  22% increase in 2-parent families  Emergency shelter use up by 27% What is new? wilderresearch.org

 Racial disparities  Long-term health issues  Traumatic experiences in childhood  Violence and exploitation  Transition years (15-21) are time of greatest risk What does not change? wilderresearch.org

Youth were most likely to be found outside the shelter system on the night of the survey  33% of youth spent at least night sleeping outside  53% spent time doubled up in October  11% had been homeless less than a month (a downward trend since 2000)  43% had been homeless a year or more (an upward trend since 2000) Current homelessness situation wilderresearch.org

Youth Homeless (age 21 & younger) MN (age 10-24) American Indian12%2% Asian American1%6% Black37%7% White (non-Hispanic) 30%76% Other, including multi-racial 10%6% Hispanic (any race) 10%7% Racial disparities wilderresearch.org

 Long-term physical health problems (36%)  Significant mental health problems (52%)  Substance abuse disorder (16%)  Evidence of traumatic brain injury (23%)  At least one of the above (69%) Long-term health issues wilderresearch.org

 Physically abused as a child (44%)  Sexually abused as a child (27%)  Neglected as a child (31%)  At least one of the above (55%)  Youth in the Twin Cities are less likely than youth in greater Minnesota to have been in placement (54% versus 65%).  60% of youth have had at least one parent incarcerated Adverse childhood experiences wilderresearch.org

Youth FemaleMale Stayed in abusive situation/no housing options 35%24% Attacked while homeless26%17% Been sexual with someone to get shelter 15%18% Violence and sexual exploitation wilderresearch.org

 Most youth grew up in MN (76%)  42% of youth were found outside the metro  15% of youth identified themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or were unsure about their sexual orientation; 2% identified as transgender  29% of youth are parents (for female youth 39%); 21% have their children with them  37% of youth had been held for more than a week in a correctional facility Other characteristics wilderresearch.org

 31% of youth employed  8% employed full-time Barriers youth identified to getting a job: –Transportation (29%), Job experience/job history (18%), personal reasons (17%), a lack of housing (16%) –Lack of employment opportunities or a lack of resources needed to work (13% each) –Criminal history (12%), education (10%), mental health issues (10%), and a lack of child care (10%) Employment wilderresearch.org

 95% of minors (17 and under) and 63% of young adults (18-21) were enrolled in school  69% of minors attended on the day of the survey  The top reasons homeless youth listed for not attending school include no permanent address (34%) and not being interested or motivated (27%).  42% had an IEP or special ed plan while in school Education and school attendance wilderresearch.org

 58% of year olds had completed high school or received their GED  10% of all homeless adults (18 and older) had completed a 2 or 4 year college degree  About 7% of all homeless adults (18 and older) were enrolled in higher education. Of these: –78% were in 2 year college programs –21% were in 4 year college programs –1% were in graduate programs Higher education (youth and adults)

 Some improvement among groups targeted for solutions –Single long-term homeless adults –Veterans  Children are able to get to and stay in school  Solutions address systems, not just individuals What gives us hope? wilderresearch.org

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