Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Youth Homelessness: A Global and National Analysis of Emerging Interventions for a Population at Risk

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Homelessness Prevention and Intervention in Social Work

  • 2960 Accesses

Abstract

This chapter analyzes national and global research and policies for serving homeless youth, including the causes and consequences of youth homelessness. The chapter will identify best practices for locating, assessing, interviewing, and intervening with homeless youth in order to meet their needs. This chapter will also help to prepare students for participating in social work research, engaging in policymaking processes, and working with agencies and organizations invested in the continued development of best practices. The information presented assists readers in becoming more well-rounded practitioners to advocate for and intervene with homeless youth.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adkins, E. C., Zalta, A. K., Boley, R. A., Glover, A., Karnik, N. S., & Schueller, S. M. (2017). Exploring the potential of technology-based mental health services for homeless youth: A qualitative study. Psychological Services, 14(2), 238–245.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Administration for Children and Families. (2016). Definitions of homelessness for federal program serving children, youth, and families. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ecd/homelessness_definition.pdf. Accessed 1st Aug 2017.

  • Agans, R. P., Jefferson, M. T., Bowling, J. M., Zeng, D., Yang, J., & Silverbush, M. (2014). Enumerating the hidden homeless: Strategies to estimate the homeless gone missing from a point-in-time count. Journal of Official Statistics (JOS), 30(2), 215–229.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Altena, A. M., Brilleslijper-Kater, S. N., & Wolf, J. L. (2010). Effective interventions for homeless youth: A systematic review. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 38(6), 637–645.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anda, R. F., Felitti, V. J., Bremner, J. D., Walker, J. D., Whitfield, C., Perry, B. D., et al. (2006). The enduring effects of abuse and related adverse experiences in childhood. European Archives of Psychiatry & Clinical Neuroscience, 256(3), 174–186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Attar-Schwartz, S. (2013). Runaway behavior among adolescents in residential care: The role of personal characteristics, victimization experiences while in care, social climate, and institutional factors. Children and Youth Services Review, 35(2), 258–267.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Auerswald, C., Lin, J., Petry, L., & Hyatt, S. (2013). Hidden in plain sight: An assessment of youth inclusion in Point-in-Time counts of California’s unsheltered homeless population. Sacramento: California Homeless Youth Project. https://www.streetchildren.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Hidden-in-Plain-Sight_FullReportFINAL.pdf.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aykanian, A., & Lee, W. (2016). Social work’s role in ending the criminalization of homelessness: Opportunities for action. Social Work, 61(2), 183–185.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baer, J. S., Petersen, P. L., & Wells, E. A. (2004). Rationale and design of a brief substance use intervention for homeless adolescents. Addiction Research and Theory, 12(4), 317–334.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Begun, S. (2015). The paradox of homeless youth pregnancy: A review of challenges and opportunities. Social Work in Health Care, 54(5), 444–460.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bender, K., Thompson, S., McManus, H., Lantry, J., & Flynn, P. (2007). Capacity for survival: Exploring strengths of homeless street youth. Child & Youth Care Forum, 36(1), 25–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bender, K., Cook, M. S., Thompson, S., Williams, T., & Windsor, L. (2010). Homeless youth: Characteristics, contributing factors, and service options. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 20(2), 193–217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bender, K., Begun, S., DePrince, A., Haffejee, B., & Kaufmann, S. (2014). Utilizing technology for longitudinal communication with homeless youth. Social Work in Health Care, 53(9), 865–882.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bender, K., Yang, J., Ferguson, K., & Thompson, S. (2015). Experiences and needs of homeless youth with a history of foster care. Children and Youth Services Review, 55, 222–231.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bidell, M. P. (2014). Is there an emotional cost of completing high school? Ecological factors and psychological distress among LGBT homeless youth. Journal of Homosexuality, 61(3), 366–381.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brakenhoff, B., Jang, B., Slesnick, N., & Snyder, A. (2015). Longitudinal predictors of homelessness: Findings from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth-97. Journal of Youth Studies, 18(8), 1015–1034.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruce, M., Chance, R., & Meulemans, L. (2015). Joining forces for families: An embedded response to neighborhood poverty. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education (QSE), 28(6), 750–756.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buckner, J. C. (2008). Understanding the impact of homelessness on children: Challenges and future research directions. American Behavioral Scientist, 51, 721–736.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burt, M. R. (1992). Alternative methods to estimate the number of homeless children and youth. Washington, DC: Urban Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Busch-Geertsema, V., Culhane, D., & Fitzpatrick, S. (2015). A global framework for understanding and measuring homelessness. Institute of Global Homelessness. http://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/d41ae6_97a693a1aba845058f91e9cf38f7c112.pdf. Accessed 2 July 2018.

  • Cloke, P., Milbourne, P., & Widdowfield, R. (2001). Making the homeless count? Enumerating rough sleepers and the distortion of homelessness. Policy and Politics, 29(3), 259–279.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Collins, P., & Barker, C. (2009). Psychological help-seeking in homeless adolescents. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 55(4), 372–384.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Craig, T. K. J., & Hodson, S. (1998). Homeless youth in London: Childhood antecedents and psychiatric disorder. Psychological Medicine, 28, 1379–1388.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crawford, M. (2018). Runaway sexual minority youth: Comparative analysis using Bronfenbrenner and Foucault. Theory in Action, 11(2), 51–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crosby, S. D., Hsu, H.-T., Jones, K., & Rice, E. (2018). Factors that contribute to help-seeking among homeless, trauma-exposed youth: A social-ecological perspective. Children & Youth Services Review, 93, 126–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Csiernik, R., Forchuk, C., Buccieri, K., Richardson, J., Rudnick, A., Warner, L., & Wright, A. (2017). Substance use of homeless and precariously housed youth in a Canadian context. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 15(1), 1–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Curry, S., & Abrams, L. (2015). Housing and social support for youth aging out of foster care: State of the research literature and directions for future inquiry. Child & Adolescent Social Work Journal, 32(2), 143–153.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Curry, S., & Petering, R. (2017). Resident perspectives on life in a transitional living program for homeless young adults. Child & Adolescent Social Work Journal, 34(6), 507–515.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Curry, S. R., Rhoades, H., & Rice, E. (2016). Correlates of homeless youths’ stability-seeking behaviors online and in person. Journal of the Society for Social Work & Research, 7(1), 143–176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cutuli, J. J., Steinway, C., Perlman, S., Herbers, J. E., Eyrich-Garg, K. M., & Willard, J. (2015). Youth homelessness: Prevalence and associations with weight in three regions. Health & Social Work, 40(4), 316–324.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D’Ercole, A., & Struening, E. (1990). Victimization among homeless women: Implications for service delivery. Journal of Community Psychology, 18(2), 141–152.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Damron, N. (2015). No place to call home: Child and youth homelessness in the United States [Poverty Fact Sheet]. Madison: Institute for Research on Poverty, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Morgridge Center for Public Service.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Rosa, C. J., Montgomery, S. B., Kipke, M. D., Iverson, E., Ma, J. L., & Unger, J. B. (1999). Service utilization among homeless and runaway youth in Los Angeles, California: Rates and reasons. Journal of Adolescent Health, 24(6), 449–458.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dekel, R., Peled, E., & Spiro, S. E. (2003). Shelters for houseless youth: A follow-up evaluation. Journal of Adolescence, 26(2), 201–212.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de la Haye, K., Green, H. J., Kennedy, D. P., Zhou, A., Golinelli, D., Wenzel, S. L., & Tucker, J. S. (2012). Who is supporting homeless youth? Predictors of support in personal networks. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 22(4), 604–616.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DeNavas-Walt, C., Proctor, B. D., Smith, J. C., & Census Bureau, U. S. (2013). Income, poverty, and health insurance coverage in the United States: 2012. Current population reports P60-245. U.S. Census Bureau. U.S. Census Bureau.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dickson-Gomez, J., Quinn, K., Johnson, A., Nowicki, K., Galletly, C., Bendixen, A., & Ko Ko, T. (2017). Identifying variability in permanent supportive housing: A comparative effectiveness approach to measuring health outcomes. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 87(4), 414–424.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dolson, M. S. (2015). Trauma, workfare and the social contingency of precarity and its sufferings: The story of Marius, a street-youth. Culture, Medicine, and Psychiatry: An International Journal of Cross-Cultural Health Research, 39(1), 134–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Durso, L. E., & Gates, G. J. (2012). Serving our youth: Findings from a national survey of service providers working with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Los Angeles: The Williams Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Edidin, J., Ganim, Z., Hunter, S., & Karnik, N. (2012). The mental and physical health of homeless youth: A literature review. Child Psychiatry & Human Development, 43(3), 354–375.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Every Student Succeeds Act, 42 U.S.C. § 11431 et seq.

    Google Scholar 

  • Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB). (2018a). Fact sheet: Runaway & homeless youth – basic center program. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/fysb/basic_center_program_fact_sheet_jan_2018.pdf

  • Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB). (2018b). Fact sheet: Runaway & homeless youth – street outreach program. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/fysb/street_outreach_program_fact_sheet_jan_2018.pdf

  • Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB). (2018c). Fact sheet: Runaway and homeless youth – transitional living program. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/fysb/transitional_living_program_fact_sheet_jan_2018.pdf

  • Felitti, V. J., Anda, R. F., Nordenberg, D., Williamson, D. F., Spitz, A. M., Edwards, V., et al. (1998). Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults: The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 14(4), 245–258.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freudenberger, H. J., & Torkelsen, S. E. (1984). Beyond the interpersonal: A systems model of therapeutic care for homeless children and youth. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 21(1), 132–140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gattis, M. N., & Larson, A. (2017). Perceived microaggressions and mental health in a sample of black youths experiencing homelessness. Social Work Research, 41(1), 7–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gelberg, L., Leake, B. D., Lu, M. C., Andersen, R. M., Wenzel, S. L., Morgenstern, H., et al. (2001). Use of contraceptive methods among homeless women for protection against unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases: Prior use and willingness to use in the future. Contraception, 63(5), 277–281.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giffords, E., Alonso, C., & Bell, R. (2007). A transitional living program for homeless adolescents: A case study. Child & Youth Care Forum, 36(4), 141–151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilmer, T. P. (2016). Permanent supportive housing for transition-age youths: Service costs and fidelity to the housing first model. Psychiatric Services, 67(6), 615–621.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilmer, T. P., Ojeda, V. D., Hiller, S., Stefancic, A., Tsemberis, S., & Palinkas, L. A. (2013). Variations in full service partnerships and fidelity to the Housing First model. American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, 16(4), 313–328.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Glassman, M., Karno, D., & Erdem, G. (2010). The problems and barriers of RHYA as social policy. Children & Youth Services Review, 32(6), 798–806.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gomez, R., & Ryan, T. (2016). Speaking out: Youth led research as a methodology used with homeless youth. Child & Adolescent Social Work Journal, 33(2), 185–193.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greene, J. M., & Ringwalt, C. L. (1998). Pregnancy among three national samples of runaway and homeless youth. Journal of Adolescent Health, 23(6), 370–377.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gulcur, L., Stefancic, A., Shinn, M., Tsemberis, S., & Fischer, S. N. (2003). Housing, hospitalization, and cost outcomes for homeless individuals with psychiatric disabilities participating in Continuum of Care and Housing First programmes. Journal of Community and Applied Social Psychology, 13, 171–186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guo, X., & Slesnick, N. (2017). Reductions in hard drug use among homeless youth receiving a strength-based outreach intervention: Comparing the long-term effects of shelter linkage versus drop-in center linkage. Substance Use & Misuse, 52(7), 905–915.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haley, N., Roy, E., Leclerc, P., Boudreau, J. F., & Boivin, J. F. (2004). HIV risk profile of male street youth involved in survival sex. Sexually Transmitted Infections, 80(6), 526–530.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harris, T., Rice, E., Rhoades, H., Winetrobe, H., & Wenzel, S. (2017). Gender differences in the path from sexual victimization to HIV risk behavior among homeless youth. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 26(3), 334–351.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heerde, J. A., & Hemphill, S. A. (2016). Sexual risk behaviors, sexual offenses, and sexual victimization among homeless youth. Trauma, Violence and Abuse, 17(5), 468–489.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heerde, J. A., Scholes-Balog, K. E., & Hemphill, S. A. (2015). Associations between youth homelessness, sexual offenses, sexual victimization, and sexual risk behaviors: A systematic literature review. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 44(1), 181–212.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hodgson, K. J., Shelton, K. H., & van den Bree, M. B. M. (2015). Psychopathology among young homeless people: Longitudinal mental health outcomes for different subgroups. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 54(3), 307–325.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holtschneider, C. (2016). From independence to interdependence: Redefining outcomes for transitional living programs for youth experiencing homelessness. Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Social Services, 97(3), 160–170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act, enacted as part of the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act (42 U.S.C. § 11302).

    Google Scholar 

  • Horwitz, B., Hinsz, J., Karczmar, A., Matjasko, J. L., Patel, S., & Vidis, J. (2018). Conducting a youth count: A toolkit (2nd ed.). Chicago: Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago. http://voicesofyouthcount.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Voices-of-Youth-Count-Toolkit-2018-FINAL.pdf. Accessed 30 Mar 2019.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jennings, L., Lee, N., Shore, D., Strohminger, N., Allison, B., Conserve, D. F., & Cheskin, L. J. (2016). U.S. minority homeless youth’s access to and use of mobile phones: Implications for mHealth intervention design. Journal of Health Communication, 21(7), 725–733.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jocoy, C. L. (2013). Counting the homeless: The culture of quantification in American social policy. Cultural Geographies, 20(3), 397–403.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kennelly, J. (2015). ‘You’re making our city look bad’: Olympic security, neoliberal urbanization, and homeless youth. Ethnography, 16(1), 3–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kennelly, J. (2017). Symbolic violence and the Olympic Games: Low-income youth, social legacy commitments, and urban exclusion in Olympic host cities. Journal of Youth Studies, 20(2), 145–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kennelly, J., & Watt, P. (2011). Sanitizing public space in Olympic host cities: The spatial experiences of marginalized youth in 2010 Vancouver and 2012 London. Sociology, 45(5), 765–781.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keuroghlian, A. S., Shtasel, D., & Bassuk, E. L. (2014). Out on the street: A public health and policy agenda for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth who are homeless. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 84(1), 66–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kidd, S. A., & Scrimenti, K. (2004). Evaluating children and youth homelessness. Evaluation Review, 28(4), 325–341.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kidd, S., Frederick, T., Karabanow, J., Hughes, J., Naylor, T., & Barbic, S. (2016). A mixed methods study of recently homeless youth efforts to sustain housing and stability. Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 33(3), 207–218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kidd, S. A., Vitopoulos, N., Frederick, T., Leon, S., Karabanow, J., & McKenzie, K. (2019). More than four walls and a roof needed: A complex tertiary prevention approach for recently homeless youth. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry., 89(2), 248–257.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, S. (2014). A review of research on runaway and homeless youth: A comparison of trends between American and South Korean journals from 2001 to 2010. Child & Adolescent Social Work Journal, 31(2), 107–118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kingree, J. B., Stephens, T., Braithwaite, R., & Griffin, J. (1999). Predictors of homelessness among participants in a substance abuse treatment program. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 69(2), 261–266.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kipke, M. D., Simon, T. R., Montgomery, S. B., Unger, J. B., & Iversen, E. F. (1997). Homeless youth and their exposure to and involvement in violence while living on the streets. Journal of Adolescent Health, 20(5), 360–367.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koller, S. H., Raffaelli, M., & Carlo, G. (2012). Conducting research about sensitive subjects: The case of homeless youth. Universitas Psychologica, 11(1), 55–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kominkiewicz, F. B. (2008). Freeing children to tell their stories: The utilization of person-centered and experiential psychotherapy in child welfare investigations. In M. Behr & J. Cornelius-White (Eds.), Person-centered work with children, adolescents, parents and families. Herefordshire: PCCS Books Ltd..

    Google Scholar 

  • Kominkiewicz, F. B., & Kominkiewicz, L. K. (2008). The dynamics and ethics of community focus groups: Exploring the social justice issues of homeless youth/Die Dynamik und Ethik von Fokusgruppen in der Gemeinwesenarbeit, die sich mit dem Thema sozialer Gerechtigkeit für obdachlose Jugendliche auseinandersetzen. In 30th international symposium of the association of social work with groups conference paper publication (CD). Cologne.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kroner, M. J. (1988). Living arrangement options for young people preparing for independent living. Child Welfare: Journal of Policy, Practice, and Program, 67(6), 547–561.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levenson, J. (2017). Trauma-informed social work practice. Social Work, 62(2), 105–113.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lightfoot, M., Stein, J. A., Tevendale, H., & Preston, K. (2011). Protective factors associated with fewer multiple problem behaviors among homeless/runaway youth. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 40(6), 878–889.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lim, C., Rice, E., & Rhoades, H. (2016). Depressive symptoms and their association with adverse environmental factors and substance use in runaway and homeless youths. Journal of Research on Adolescence (Wiley-Blackwell), 26(3), 403–417.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lyon-Callo, V. (2000). Medicalizing homelessness: The production of self-blame and self-governing within homeless shelters. Medical Anthropology Quarterly, 14(3), 328–345.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mallett, S., Rosenthal, D., Myers, P., Milburn, N., & Rotheram-Borus, M. J. (2004). Practicing homelessness: A typology approach to young people’s daily routines. Journal of Adolescence, 27(3), 337–349.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McAlpine, K., Henley, R., Mueller, M., & Vetter, S. (2010). A survey of street children in Northern Tanzania: How abuse or support factors may influence migration to the street. Community Mental Health Journal, 46(1), 26–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McNamara, R. H., Crawford, C., & Burns, R. (2013). Policing the homeless: Policy, practice, and perceptions. Policing: An International Journal, 36(2), 357–374.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meade, M. A., & Slesnick, N. (2002). Ethical considerations for research and treatment with runaway and homeless adolescents. The Journal of Psychology, 136(4), 449–463.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meadows-Oliver, M. (2006). Homeless adolescent mothers: A metasynthesis of their life experiences. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 21(5), 340–349.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Middleton, J. S., Gattis, M. N., Frey, L. M., & Roe-Sepowitz, D. (2018). Youth Experiences Survey (YES): Exploring the scope and complexity of sex trafficking in a sample of youth experiencing homelessness. Journal of Social Service Research, 44(2), 141–157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morton, M. H., Dworsky, A., Matjasko, J. L., Curry, S. R., Schlueter, D., Chávez, R., & Farrell, A. F. (2018). Prevalence and correlates of youth homelessness in the United States. Journal of Adolescent Health, 62(1), 14–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naidich, W. B., & Covenant House Nineline. (1988). The host homes model of temporary emergency shelter. New York: Covenant House.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Center for Homeless Education. (2013). Housing and education collaborations to serve homeless children, youth, and families. Best practices in interagency collaboration brief series. National center for homeless education at SERVE. National Center for Homeless Education at SERVE. https://nche.ed.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/hud.pdf. Accessed 30 Mar 2019.

  • National Center for Homeless Education. (2016). Federal data summary: School years 2012–13 to 2014–15: Education for homeless children and youth. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education. Accessed 11 Mar 2019.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Conference of State Legislatures. (2016). Homeless and runaway youth. http://www.ncsl.org/research/human-services/homeless-and-runaway-youth.aspx. Accessed 30 June 2018.

  • National Network for Youth (NN4Y). (2019). Public policy. https://www.nn4youth.org/policy-advocacy/public-policy/fed-definitions-homeless-youth/#_ftn1. Accessed 11 Mar 2019.

  • Okamoto, Y. (2007). A comparative study of homelessness in the United Kingdom and Japan. Journal of Social Issues, 63(3), 525–542.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parker, S., & Mayock, P. (2019). “They’re Always Complicated but That’s the Meaning of Family in My Eyes”: Homeless youth making sense of “family” and family relationships. Journal of Family Issues, 40(4), 540–570.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parks, R. W., Stevens, R. J., & Spence, S. A. (2007). A systematic review of cognition in homeless children and adolescents. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 100(1), 46–50.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pavlakis, A. (2014). Living and learning at the intersection: Student homelessness and complex policy environments. Urban Review, 46(3), 445–475.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pears, J., & Noller, P. (1995). Youth homelessness: Abuse, gender, and the process of adjustment to life on the streets. Australian Journal of Social Issues (Australian Council of Social Service), 30(4), 405–424.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Popple, P., & Leighninger, L. (2019). The policy-based profession: An introduction to social welfare policy analysis for social workers (7th ed.). Boston: Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quimby, E. G., Edidin, J. P., Ganim, Z., Gustafson, E., Hunter, S. J., & Karnik, N. S. (2012). Psychiatric disorders and substance use in homeless youth: A preliminary comparison of San Francisco and Chicago. Behavioral Sciences (2076-328X), 2(3), 186–194.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ray, N. (2006). An epidemic of homelessness: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth. Washington, DC: National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rew, L., Chambers, K. B., & Kulkarni, S. (2002). Planning a sexual health promotion intervention with homeless adolescents. Nursing Research, 51(3), 168–174.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rhule-Louie, D., Bowen, S., Baer, J., & Peterson, P. (2008). Substance use and health and safety among homeless youth. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 17(3), 306–319.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rice, E., & Barman, A. A. (2014). Internet and social media use as a resource among homeless youth. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 19(2), 232–247.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robertson, M. J., & Toro, P. A. (1999). Homeless youth: Research, intervention, and policy. In L. B. Fosburg & D. L. Dennis (Eds.), Practical lessons: The 1998 National Symposium on Homelessness Research (pp. 3–1-3-32). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson, B. A. (2018). Child welfare systems and LGBTQ youth homelessness: Gender segregation, instability, and intersectionality. Child Welfare, 96(2), 29–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenthal, D., Mallett, S., & Myers, P. (2006). Why do homeless young people leave home? Australian & New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 30(3), 281–285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, as amended and reauthorized by Reconnecting Homeless Youth Act, 42 U.S.C. § 5701 et seq.

    Google Scholar 

  • Saewyc, E. M., & Edinburgh, L. D. (2010). Restoring healthy developmental trajectories for sexually exploited young runaway girls: Fostering protective factors and reducing risk behaviors. Journal of Adolescent Health, 46, 180–188.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saldanha, K. (2017). It should not be a pit stop: Voices and perspectives of homeless youth on labeling and placement in special education. Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 10(2), 55–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saperstein, A. M., Lee, S., Ronan, E. J., Seeman, R. S., & Medalia, A. (2014). Cognitive deficit and mental health in homeless transition-age youth. Pediatrics, 134(1), e138–e145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schneider, M., Brisson, D., & Burnes, D. (2016). Do we really know how many are homeless?: An analysis of the point-in-time homelessness count. Families in Society, 97(4), 321–329.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheffield, J. J. (2015). Homeless Bills of Rights: Moving United States policy toward a human right to housing. Georgetown Journal on Poverty Law and Policy, 22(2), 321–353.

    Google Scholar 

  • Slesnick, N., & Prestopnik, J. L. (2005). Ecologically based family therapy outcome with substance abusing runaway adolescents. Journal of Adolescence, 28(2), 277–298.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Slesnick, N., Kang, M. J., Bonomi, A. E., & Prestopnik, J. L. (2008). Six- and twelve-month outcomes among homeless youth accessing therapy and case management services through an urban drop-in center. Health Services Research, 43(1), 211–229.

    Google Scholar 

  • Slesnick, N., Guo, X., Brakenhoff, B., & Bantchevska, D. (2015). A comparison of three interventions for homeless youth evidencing substance use disorders: Results of a randomized clinical trial. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 54, 1–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Slesnick, N., Feng, X., Guo, X., Brakenhoff, B., Carmona, J., Murnan, A., et al. (2016a). A test of outreach and drop-in linkage versus shelter linkage for connecting homeless youth to services. Prevention Science, 17(4), 450–460.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Slesnick, N., Zhang, J., & Brakenhoff, B. (2016b). Homeless youths’ caretakers: The mediating role of childhood abuse on street victimization and housing instability. Social Work, 61(2), 147–154.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sommer, V.L. (1995). The ecological perspective. In M.J. Macy, N. Flax, V.L. Sommer, & R. Stoessen (2004, July). Collaborating with faith-based services. NASW News, p. 4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stefancic, A., & Tsemberis, S. (2007). Housing First for long-term shelter dwellers with psychiatric disabilities in a suburban county: A four-year study of housing access and retention. The Journal of Primary Prevention, 28(3–4), 265–279.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stone, S., & Uretsky, M. (2016). School correlates of academic behaviors and performance among McKinney–Vento identified youth. Urban Education, 51(6), 600–628.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2014). Trauma-informed care in behavioral health services: Treatment improvement protocol (TIP) series 57 [HHS Publication No. (SMA) 13-4801]. Rockville, MD.

    Google Scholar 

  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2018). Adverse childhood experiences. https://www.samhsa.gov/capt/practicing-effective-prevention/prevention-behavioral-health/adverse-childhood-experiences. Last updated July 9, 2018.

  • Sullivan-Walker, M. E., Rock, M. L., & Popp, P. A. (2017). Meeting the needs of students with disabilities experiencing homelessness: Federal, community, and educator roles. Preventing School Failure, 61(2), 155–162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suppes, M. A., & Wells, C. C. (2018). The social work experience: A case-based introduction to social work and social welfare. New York: Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas de Benitez, S., & Jones, G. A. (n.d.). Youth and the United Nations: Briefing note on youth on the streets. United Nations. http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/documents/briefingnotestreetyouth.pdf. Accessed 30 June 2018.

  • Thompson, S., Kim, J., McManus, H., Flynn, P., & Kim, H. (2007). Peer relationships: A comparison of homeless youth in the USA and South Korea. International Social Work, 50(6), 783–795.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, S. J., Bender, K. A., Lewis, C. M., & Watkins, R. (2008). Runaway and pregnant: Risk factors associated with pregnancy in a national sample of runaway/homeless female adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 43(2), 125–132.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, S. J., Bender, K., Windsor, L., Cook, M. S., & Williams, T. (2010). Homeless youth: Characteristics, contributing factors, and service options. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 20(2), 193–217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, S. J., Bender, K., Ferguson, K. M., & Kim, Y. (2015). Factors associated with substance use disorders among traumatized homeless youth. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 15(1), 66–89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Townley, G., Pearson, L., Lehrwyn, J. M., Prophet, N. T., & Trauernicht, M. (2016). Utilizing participatory mapping and GIS to examine the activity spaces of homeless youth. American Journal of Community Psychology, 57(3/4), 404–414.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tucker, J. S., Sussell, J., Golinelli, D., Zhou, A., Kennedy, D. P., & Wenzel, S. L. (2012). Understanding pregnancy-related attitudes and behaviors: A mixed-methods study of homeless youth. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 44(4), 252–261.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tyler, K. A., & Schmitz, R. M. (2018). Child abuse, mental health and sleeping arrangements among homeless youth: Links to physical and sexual street victimization. Children and Youth Services Review, 95, 327–333.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tyler, K. A., Schmitz, R. M., & Ray, C. M. (2018). Role of social environmental protective factors on anxiety and depressive symptoms among midwestern homeless youth. Journal of Research on Adolescence (Wiley-Blackwell), 28(1), 199–210.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). (2012). HUD exchange. Introductory Guide to the Continuum of Care (CoC) Program: 2012 Understanding the CoC Program and the requirements of the CoC Program Interim Rule https://www.hudexchange.info/resources/documents/CoCProgramIntroductoryGuide.pdf. Accessed 30 Mar 2019.

  • U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). (2018). The 2018 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress. Part 1: Point-in-time estimates of homelessness. Washington, D.C.: Office of Community Planning and Development.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). (2019). HUD Exchange. Continuum of Care (CoC) Program Eligibility Requirements. https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/coc/coc-program-eligibility-requirements

  • U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. (2015). Opening doors: Federal strategic plan to end homelessness. https://www.usich.gov/resources/uploads/asset_library/USICH_OpeningDoors_Amendment2015_FINAL.pdf. Accessed 30 Mar 2019.

  • United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner. (2012). Protection and promotion of the rights of children working and/or living on the street. http://www.streetchildrenresources.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/OHCHR-protection-promotion.pdf. Accessed 30 June 2018.

    Google Scholar 

  • van den Bree, M. B. M., Shelton, K., Bonner, A., Moss, S., Thomas, H., & Taylor, P. J. (2009). A longitudinal population-based study of factors in adolescence predicting homelessness in young adulthood. Journal of Adolescent Health, 45(6), 571–578.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Violence Against Women Act, 42 U.S.C. § 13701 et seq.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vitopoulos, N., Cerswell Kielburger, L., Frederick, T. J., McKenzie, K., & Kidd, S. (2017). Developing a trauma-informed mental health group intervention for youth transitioning from homelessness. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 48(6), 499–509.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Washington State Department of Commerce. (2017). Research and recommendations on host home programs report on host home licensing exemption per RCW 74.15.020 and RCW 24.03.550. http://www.commerce.wa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Commerce-Host-Homes-Report-2017.pdf. Accessed 29 Mar 2019.

  • Whitbeck, L. B., & Simons, R. L. (1993). A comparison of adaptive strategies and patterns of victimization among homeless adolescents and adults. Violence and Victims, 8(2), 135–152.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whitbeck, L. B., Johnson, K. D., Hoyt, D. R., & Cauce, A. M. (2004). Mental disorder and comorbidity among runaway and homeless adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 35(2), 132–140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wong, C. F., Clark, L. F., & Marlotte, L. (2016). The impact of specific and complex trauma on the mental health of homeless youth. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 31(5), 831–854.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wright, J. D., & Devine, J. A. (1995). Housing dynamics of the homeless: Implications for a count. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 65(3), 320–329.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yoder, J. R., Bender, K., Thompson, S. J., Ferguson, K. M., & Haffejee, B. (2014). Explaining homeless youths’ criminal justice interactions: Childhood trauma or surviving life on the streets? Community Mental Health Journal, 50(2), 135–144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yoshioka-Maxwell, A., & Rice, E. (2017). Exploring the impact of network characteristics on substance use outcomes among homeless former foster youth. International Journal of Public Health, 62(3), 371–378.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yoshioka-Maxwell, A., & Rice, E. (2019). Exploring the relationship between foster care experiences and HIV risk behaviors among a sample of homeless former foster youth. AIDS & Behavior, 23(3), 792–801.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zerger, S., Strehlow, A. J., & Gundlapalli, A. V. (2008). Homeless young adults and behavioral health: An overview. American Behavioral Scientist, 51(6), 824–841.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, J., & Slesnick, N. (2018). Substance use and social stability of homeless youth: A comparison of three interventions. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 32(8), 873–884.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, Q., Kim, B. K. E., Li, W., Hsiao, H.-Y., & Rice, E. (2018). Incarceration history, social network composition, and substance use among homeless youth in Los Angeles. Journal of Addictive Diseases, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1080/10550887.2018.1545555

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Children’s Legal Services of San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA

    Lauren Kominkiewicz

  2. Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN, USA

    Frances Bernard Kominkiewicz

Authors
  1. Lauren Kominkiewicz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Frances Bernard Kominkiewicz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Welfare, University at Albany (SUNY), Albany, NY, USA

    Heather Larkin  & Amanda Aykanian  & 

  2. School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA

    Calvin L. Streeter

Electronic Supplementary Material

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Kominkiewicz, L., Kominkiewicz, F.B. (2019). Youth Homelessness: A Global and National Analysis of Emerging Interventions for a Population at Risk. In: Larkin, H., Aykanian, A., Streeter, C.L. (eds) Homelessness Prevention and Intervention in Social Work. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03727-7_15

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03727-7_15

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-03726-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-03727-7

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation