Staci Perlman, MSW, PhD University of Delaware, Newark Understanding Homelessness Among High School Age Youth Joe Willard People’s Emergency Center, Philadelphia

INTRODUCTIONS Who are you? What brings you to this workshop? Any community collaborations on collecting and using data to understanding youth homelessness?

Prevalence Impact Addressing the Needs of Youth Focus for Today

Scope of the Issue

Percent of Homeless Individuals who were Unaccompanied Youth 31 Youth Estimates from HUD Point in Time Count Data

Percent of Homeless Students who are Unaccompanied

100,000 v 1.6 million Prevalence… Why the difference?

Estimates based on different definitions… Obtained using different methods… …Yield different counts

Side by Side Comparison of State Shelter (EH/TH) McKinney-Vento (School)

Does your community conduct a Youth PIT? What do you think can be done to improve our understanding of the number of youth experiencing homelessness?

A strategy we tried: Youth Risk Behavior Survey

Philadelphia YRBS Conducted since 1991 Asks about an array of youth risk behaviors In 2009 and 2011, Philadelphia included three questions on housing status – making it one of few locations in the country to do so…

Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) Conducted biennially - usually during the spring Completed in one class period (45 minutes) Anonymous, no “skip-patterns”

Philadelphia YRBS Housing Status Questions At a friend's or relative's home with my parents or guardians In a supervised shelter with my parents or guardians In a hotel or motel, car, park, campground, or other public place with my parents or guardians Where do you typically sleep at night? Homeless with Family Housed At home with my parents or guardians Homeless Without Family (Unaccompanied Youth) At a friend's or relative's home without my parents or guardians In a supervised shelter without my parents or guardians In a hotel or motel, car, park, campground, or other public place without my parents or guardians

Housing StatusPrevalence Ever Homeless 7.6% (n = 2,606) Sleep Away From Home With a Parent 3.5% (n = 1,215) Sleep Away From Home Without a Parent (Unaccompanied Youth) 2.7% (n = 948) Kicked out, Thrown Out, Ran Away, or Abandoned (in the last 30 days) 11.1% (n = 3,834)

Where Sleeping at Night Homeless with Family Unaccompanied Youth At a relative’s or friend’s 86.6%80.5% In a shelter 13.4%15.1% In a hotel/motel/ campground or other public place 0%4.4%

Philadelphia PIT: 17 YRBS: 2,163 Massachusetts PIT: 68 YRBS: 12,541 Los Angeles, CA PIT: 366 YRBS: 34,370 Youth Experiencing Homelessness: PIT Compared to YRBS

Do you think this is something you could do in your community?

Impact (or why it matters…)

Interpersonal/Sexual Violence Physical Abuse Sexual Abuse Sexual Exploitation Bullying

Substance Use/Abuse Smoking Alcohol Marijuana

Mental Health Depression Anxiety Self-injury Behaviors Suicidal ideation Suicide attempts

Academic Achievement/Engagement Truancy Poor academic performance Poor engagement High school dropout

Some youth are more vulnerable than others… LGBTQ Unaccompanied Aging out

Although youth experiencing homelessness are more vulnerable to adverse outcomes, many are resilient… Based on your experiences, what do you think promotes resiliency?

Policy & Practice

Addressing the Needs of Youth Increasing Usage Funding Engagement Research

Increasing the Use of the YRBS Philadelphia Massachusetts Los Angeles, CA Texas North Carolina Maryland California – In Discussion Connecticut Delaware Washington Hudson cty, NJ Wisconsin

Sample YRBS Questions Maryland Do your parents or guardians own or rent the home or place where you are living now? During the past 12 months, did you ever live away from your parents or guardians because you were kicked out, ran away, or were abandoned? During the past 12 months, where did you usually sleep at night? North Carolina Where do you typically sleep at night?

Inclusion of LGQ Questions

All Youth Youth Experiencing Homelessness LGBQ Among Homeless Connecticut 171,469 10,035 (4%) 1,870 (31%) Delaware 37,713 1,461 (4%) 339 (32%)

Funding to Address Needs of Youth Massachusetts: – Partnership between a school district and their local housing authority to house seniors in exchange for a pledge to graduate high school. – Statewide collaboration between CoC & Education Phila: $250,000 PUSH grant Grant proposals

Engagement Around Youth Issues Increased dialogue focused on youth National Consortium Youth Count! – Urban Institute recognition USICH – blog Future web site

Research Homeless Youth in Philadelphia: Prevalence and Mental Health Risks Manuscript BMI manuscript (under review) Substance use manuscript (in progress) LGBTQ manuscript (in progress)

What resources/policies seem to be working in your community? What is still needed?

We greatly appreciate the time and insight of the individuals who participated in the stakeholder interviews and who contributed to this study. Thank You !