The Need is Great

 

According to the 2017 Lincoln County Needs Assessment, Lincoln County homeless student counts, provided by local school districts, have skyrocketed from 2009/10 to 2015/16.

• Increasing from a total of 23 reported homeless youth (09/10) to 150 youth, representing an increase of 552% *Some of the reported youth remain a part of a family unit and some of the increase can be attributed to better reporting efforts. Still, youth homelessness is identified in the needs assessment as an issue that demands community action.

 

According to the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth:

• Most homeless youth have left home due to severe family dysfunction, including abuse and neglect.
• Studies have found that 20-40% of unaccompanied homeless youth were abused sexually in their homes, while 40-60% were abused physically.
• Over 2/3 of unaccompanied homeless youth report that at least one of their parents abuses drugs or alcohol.
• 57% of homeless kids spend at least one day every month without food.
• According to a study of youth in shelters, nearly 50% reported intense conflict or physical harm by a family member as a major contributing factor to their homelessness.
• Almost 40% of the homeless in the United States are under 18.

 

Youth homelessness is unique because youth are:

• Physically, emotionally, psychologically, and socially still developing
• Enter into homelessness with little or no work experience
• Often are forced into leaving their education prior to completion
• Experience high levels of criminal victimization, including sexual exploitation
• Often enter into homelessness without life skills, such as cooking, money management, housekeeping, and often enter into homelessness without life skills, such as cooking, money management, housekeeping, and a job