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• [email protected]• www.OutTheBoat.org• Yes, I know “Out The Boat” is
bad grammar• I want you to help anyway