No Place to Call Home
By: Marvin Shim
For most of us, adolescence is a time of exploration and growth, when we push the limits, try new experiences, and determine who we are. However, millions of young people in the United States grow up with the one stable factor missing from their lives, a home. Every year, more than 4.2 million youth experience homelessness, and of these, almost 700,000 are unaccompanied minors—youth experiencing homelessness in the world all on their own (NSCL, May 2025). Youth homelessness exists within these reported numbers, and 5 out of 6 youths will experience homelessness unnoticed, suffering in silence.
There are several very complex reasons that exist as to why youth experience homelessness, and there are numerous compounding reasons that lead to the problem. Family conflict is one of the number one reasons as abuse, neglect, and rejection force many youth onto the streets. As a literature review by Fraser et al. pointed out, youth from the LGBTQ+ community are especially vulnerable in this regard along with family conflict, as these youth comprise upwards of 40% of homeless youth in our country despite only comprising about 7% of the youth population in general. For many youth in the LGBTQ+ community rejection based on sexual orientation or gender identity leaves them with no family support.
Another main contributing factor to youth homelessness is the foster care system. Youth who age out of the foster care system without having a stable home or a financial safety net are at extremely high risk of homelessness. According to The Annie E. Casey Foundation, between 12-36% of youth who age out of the foster care system transition directly into homelessness. Economic struggles, such as poverty, unemployment, and the sudden loss of housing, hamper progress to permanently improve housing and life stability situations. Mental health challenges and substance use complicate the situation when unmet or untreated due to a lack of access to health care and support services.
Living in a building meant shelter or spending days on the street is unpredictable, dangerous, and uncertain. Homeless youth are struggling to fill basic needs the community takes for granted, such as food, safety, shelter, and hygiene, and face barriers to education. Aside from the physical impact of poor, unmet, and inconsistent health care, students' mental well-being and health hurdles become reflex responses to living in poverty, homelessness, and unstable conditions.
Even with these barriers, support does exist for homeless youth. Safety is immediate in shelters or bridging housing, although it often depends on community-level efforts and limited resources. Community and nonprofit programs can help provide youth with educational or employment mentorship, skill development, emotional support, and care to regain stability and self-esteem. Government support and interventions aim to prevent homelessness and provide a federally funded emergency expenditure and a housing subsidy program, while education-focused initiatives are conducted to ensure that students experiencing homelessness can continue to pursue an education and still access a meal and other counseling resources.
Yet many teens remain “hidden homeless”, living in cars, motels, or couch-surfing with friends. These youths are even harder to reach, often falling through the cracks of social services and support networks. Awareness and action are crucial if society hopes to address the crisis effectively.
Youth homelessness is not just a statistic—it is a human reality. By recognizing the problem, supporting organizations that provide housing, mentorship, and education, and advocating for systemic change, we can help ensure that every teen has the chance to grow up with the stability and safety they deserve. Growing up should not mean surviving on the streets; it should mean discovering who you are, exploring your potential, and building a future.
