Youth and young adults are a growing area of focus in communities’ efforts to prevent and end homelessness. Often undercounted in traditional point-in-time surveys, young people are more likely than adults to be unstably or unsafely housed in the homes of relatives or friends, making it difficult to connect them with available housing and services.  

Particular subpopulations, such as youth with experience in the foster care and juvenile justice systems, experience homelessness at higher rates. In community planning on this issue, cross-system partnerships are essential to ensure that homelessness is prevented whenever possible for youth who are at risk. These youth and young adults often have their own strong ideas to drive change, and should be supported as local leaders in community work.