Helping Unaccompanied Homeless Youth

Position Statement Summary

Date: Thursday, June 26th, 2008






Full Statement

In the state of Minnesota there are an estimated 22,410 unaccompanied youth who runaway or experience homeless every year. Of these 22,410 youth Wilder estimates that 39% or 8,740 of them are homeless for at least six months or longer.

Why Youth are Homeless:

  • 63% of homeless youth cannot live with their families because of severe conflict or abuse
  • 15% cannot live with their families because of lack of adequate housing
  • 15% are homeless because their parent or guardian cannot provide housing for them at all because of their own situation of homelessness, and
  • 7% have been kicked out by their families due to their sexual orientation or gender identity
  • 71% of the homeless youth have been in a county referred out-of-home placement (foster care, group home or corrections placement) with 53% having been a part of the foster care system.

    • State funds are needed to support a continuum of care to support youth from crisis to independence and self-sufficiency.

    Past Successes in the Minnesota Legislature.

    2006: The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act re-defined homeless youth to include young people up to 21 years old and “couch hoppers,” assured a report on the state of runaway and homeless youth and existing services in Minnesota, and defined the continuum of care to serve and support youth - street outreach, drop in centers, emergency shelter and transitional living programs.

    2007: The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act received $1 million to fund services for homeless youth in 2007 and 2008, and to evaluate the success of those services.

    2008: Ready to Launch mandated accountability for foster care youth’s Independent Living Plans through a court review prior to aging out.

    Support Runaway and Homeless Youth:
    Secure sustained funds to support a continuum of services to support youth.

    Support the Ready to Launch Act:

    • Provide automatic Medical Assistance coverage for youth aging out of foster care up to age 21. Over 40% of states have opted to expand Medical Assistance to cover youth up to 21, as allowed under the Chaffee Foster Care Independence Act.
    • Allow youth to remain in foster care or return for care or assistance up to age 21. Compared to youth who are required to leave care at 18, youth who remain in care past their 18th birthday have a decreased risk of economic hardship, criminal activity and pregnancy.

    For More Information

    For more information, contact Michael Dahl, MCH Executive Director (651) 645-7332 ext. 2 dahl at mnhomelesscoalition dot org or Anne Bomstad Miller, Grasstops Inc. Executive Director (612) 756-1313 anne at grasstops dot org.

    Policy Brief on Youth Homelessness: Download the Coalition's 2008 Policy Brief on youth homelessness.