Amanda Jones

Networking for Youth Housing

Amanda M. JonesWTF? Youth Homelessness in DC

The following slides belie my supernerd tendencies and anal

retentive personality.

Youth Homelessness: The Issues

• Estimates of homeless youth in the US vary widely–1.35M to 2M+ (Institute for Children and

Poverty, 2008; National Alliance to End Homelessness, 2009)

• Defining & tracking homeless youth is very difficult (Robertson, 2004; Comey, Smith, & Tatian, 2009)

Youth Homelessness: The Issues

• Homeless youth are transient and tend to hide their status (Robertson, 2004)

• High level of stigma associated with homeless youth (Karabanow, 2004)

• Also a lack of information regarding program efficacy (R. Hooks-Wayman, personal communication, November 3, 2009)

Youth Homelessness: The Issues• Causes (van der Ploeg, and Scholte,

1997; Robertson, 2004; Arnett, 2004, 2006)–Coming out/being outed as LGBTQ– Family economic instability–Abuse: physical, sexual, neglect–Release from foster care, juvenile justice

systems–Older youth: personal economic instability

Youth Homelessness: The Issues• Some problems experienced– Interrupted education (Toro, Dwarsky, and

Fowler, 2007)–Poor financial outlook (Cheeseman Day, J. &

Newburger, E.C., 2002)–Assault, human trafficking, HIV, teen

pregnancy (Robertson, 2004)–Criminal activity (van der Ploeg and Scholte,

1997)

WHEW!

Where Are DC’s Homeless Youth?

NUMB3RSTM

= 2,494

= 2,879* = 113

= 903*

Here are some MORE slides that belie my supernerd

tendencies and anal retentive personality.

What’s A City To Do?

• Early Runners– Most return home quickly– Low intensity

• Tactics– Prevention & Early Intervention– Group Decision Making– Community Outreach in Schools

What’s A City To Do?

• Same as Early Runners• Intensive Case Management

• Family/Youth Triage• Family Foster Care (Younger Youth)• Transitional Living (Older Youth)

What’s A City To Do?

• Street Dependent– Navigate various settings: railways, squatting,

parks, etc – High intensity

• Tactics– Street Outreach & Relationship Building– Short-term Financial Assistance– Permanent Supportive Housing

Who’s Doing It• Sasha Bruce Youthwork*–www.sashabruce.org

• Covenant House*–www.covenanthousedc.org

• Latin American Youth Center–www.layc-dc.org

• Wanda Alston House–www.theincdc.org

The Service Provider Collaborative

Once we have housing…

• @VisionSpeaks -> me• @OutTheBoat -> my org• Amanda@OutTheBoat.org• www.OutTheBoat.org• Yes, I know “Out The Boat” is

bad grammar• I want you to help anyway