In a recent study commissioned by the federal Department of Health and Human Services’ Family & Youth Services Bureau, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln surveyed street youth in 11 American cities to gather information on their service utilization and needs. The survey found, with regard to the surveyed population, that:
- 51.2% initially became homeless because they were asked by a parent or caregiver to leave home;
- 29.5% had the option of returning home;
- 60.8% had been sexually assaulted or raped, beaten up, assaulted or threatened with a weapon, or robbed;
- 20% identified as bisexual, 9.9% as gay or lesbian, and 6.8% as transgender;
- 61.8% struggled with depression;
- 79.5% experienced symptoms of post-traumatic stress for more than one month;
- 51.6% agreed to be sexual with someone in exchange for money or a place to spend the night; and
- 51.8% slept or rested outside on a street, in a park, or on a bench.
With regard to service needs, the surveyed youth most needed help meeting basic needs, including safe shelter, education, transportation, clothing, and laundry facilities. The study suggests that street youth would benefit from:
- a larger investment in emergency shelters and family reunification programs;
- intensive case management services, including careful screening and assessment, treatment planning, and crisis counseling; and
- intensive interventions and supports, especially for the many youth who have experienced trauma.
