In October 2018, leaders from across the country joined a convening held by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) and Chapin Hall. Together, they identified federal policy implications of Voices of Youth Count (VoYC) research findings. Participants included federal staff from multiple agencies, research experts, national organizations, advocates, youth and young adult leaders, and funders. This convening represented a key step in a multistage process to identify recommendations for federal action based on the vast body of VoYC research. We used the ideas generated from this process, along with Chapin Hall’s policy analysis and consultations over the last several years of implementing VoYC, to prepare this policy paper as an evidence-informed roadmap to help guide federal action on youth homelessness.
VoYC findings reveal youth homelessness as a broad and hidden challenge as well as a complex problem with deep roots in family adversities and structural inequalities. Yet, youth homelessness is a solvable problem. And it must be solved. As long as millions of youth do not live up to their potential as individuals due to homelessness, housing instability, and related adversities, we don’t live up to our potential as a nation. We can do better, together.
To read the recommendations, click on the link below:
Research to Impact: Federal Actions to Prevent & End Youth Homelessness