Federal Definitions of Homelessness Should Not be Different

Legislation Introduced to Foster Success in Education for Youth Experiencing Homelessness and Foster Youth 

A college degree dramatically increases employment and earnings. Although the vast majority of foster and homeless youth want to attend college, these youth experience multiple challenges (such as financial hardship, housing insecurity, poor academic preparation) that undermine enrollment and completion.

The Fostering Success in Higher Education Act would substantially improve state capacity to assist these students, helping them cover the costs of college and providing robust support and mental health services.

The Homeless Children and Youth Act (H.R. 5221) Would Serve Some of the Most Vulnerable Children and Youth, and Prevent Future Homelessness

U.S. Representatives Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ-11), Bill Posey (R-FL-08), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), and Don Bacon (R-NE-02) reintroduced the Homeless Children and Youth Act (HCYA) (H.R. 5221) on August 15, 2023. This legislation would change how HUD defines homelessness so that more children, youth, and families can access the housing assistance they need

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Drug Use in Juvenile Facilities Reported by Youth

Drug and alcohol use reported by youth in juvenile facilities, 2008–2018

“This report describes patterns of drug and alcohol use among youth in juvenile facilities before they entered custody, including drugs or alcohol ever used and types of drugs used. It also provides findings on substance use disorder and alcohol use disorder among youth by their demographic and offense characteristics.

An estimated 84% of youth in juvenile facilities reported ever using drugs and 76% reported ever using alcohol, according to data collected in 2008-09, 2012, and 2018. More than half (60%) of youth in juvenile facilities met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) criteria for substance use disorder and more than a third (36%) met the criteria for alcohol use disorder in the 12 months before entering custody.

Findings are from an alternative questionnaire given to 10% of youth in the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ (BJS) National Survey of Youth in Custody (NSYC): 1,027 youth from the NSYC-1 in 2008–09, 937 youth from the NSYC-2 in 2012, and 652 youth from the NSYC-3 in 2018. Analyses in the report are generally based on data aggregated across the three surveys.”
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Still ringing the alarm: An enduring call to action for black youth suicide prevention

“In 2019, the Congressional Black Caucus Emergency Task Force on Black Youth Suicide and Mental Health sounded the alarm about concerning suicide trends among Black youth in their report, Ring the Alarm. This present report not only urges us to renew the urgent call to action but also to critically interrogate the socioecological factors and structures—including institutional racism—that contribute to suicide risk among Black youth and how those factors create significant barriers for researchers and implementors trying to save their lives.

The data are alarming—Black youth have the fastest-rising suicide rate among their peers of other races and ethnicities. Even more disconcerting, we may not have the full picture of how suicide deaths are impacting Black youth due to misclassification errors. In the 13-year period between 2007 and 2020, the suicide rate among Black youth ages 10–17 increased by 144%. Black boys ages 0–19 have more than twice the suicide rate compared to Black girls of their age group. In 2021, one in five Black high school students reported seriously considering attempting suicide in the past year. That same year, nearly 18% of Black high school students had made a suicide plan in the past year, and 15% reported attempting suicide. Nearly 1 in 20 needed medical attention as a result of their suicide attempt.”
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