YOUTH HOMELESSNESS
WHY YOUTH HOMELESSNESS
Youth homelessness is a crisis in Nevada and it’s only growing. Our state not only faces high numbers of young people experiencing homelessnesss but also has one of the highest rates of youth living unsheltered. This pressing problem demands immediate attention, as failing to provide adequate resources now means these youth may face even greater challenges in the future.
Youth experiencing homelessness have unique needs and circumstances that differ significantly from those of adults, requiring tailored resources to help them break the cycle of homelessness. Addressing youth homelessness effectively is crucial, not only for the well-being of these young individuals but also for our broader efforts to combat homelessness among adults and families. The Movement is dedicated to tackling youth homelessness head-on with focused solutions designed to create lasting change.
At least 25% of 17-year-olds in foster care will experience homelessness by age 21
More than 1 in 3 homeless youth report engaging in survival sex, trading sex for money, food, or a place to stay
Students experiencing homelessness are 87% more likely to drop out of school
LOCAL STATISTICS
545 unaccompanied youth experienced homelessness on any given day in Nevada in 2024, a 23% increase from the prior year
17,199 students were identified as experiencing homelessness in K - 12 schools across Nevada in 2022 - 2023
NATIONAL STATISTICS
4.2 million adolescents and young adults experience homelessness in the U.S. each year, 700,000 of whom are unaccompanied minors.
That means:
- 1 in 10 young adults ages 18 – 25 is experiencing homelessness each year nationwide
- 1 in 30 minors ages 13 – 17 is experiencing homelessness each year nationwide
Other resources on youth homelessness
National Resources:
- New Opportunities: A National Strategy to Prevent Youth Homelessness (2024) – Chapin Hall
- Voices of Youth Count – Chapin Hall
- Student Homelessness Data Profiles – SchoolHouse Connection
- Youth Homelessness Resources – National Network for Youth
- New Opportunities: A National Strategy to Prevent Youth Homelessness (2024) – Chapin Hall
Research Briefs Created by University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) in Collaboration with the Movement:
- The State of Youth Homelessness in Southern Nevada (2017)
- Examining the Economic Cost of Youth Homelessness in Southern Nevada (2018)
- Uncovering Challenges and Opportunity in Addressing Youth Homelessness in Southern Nevada: Community Comparisons (2018)
- A Review of Policies that Impact Homeless Youth in Southern Nevada (2018)
- The State of Youth Homelessness in Southern Nevada (2017)