homelessness: Fight Poverty Not the Poor protest

Opinion: Youth Homelessness Is a Symptom, Not a Cause

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(Series: Part 5 of 7)
Part 1: How Do We Make Youth Homelessness Effort Bipartisan? Part 2: America’s Biases Marginalize Youth, Drive Them to Homelessness
Part 3: Collective Decision-making Can Neutralize Politics of Fear
Part 4: So How Does This Collective Decision-making Work? Now that we have equalized the playing field among the political and ideological spectrum, let’s turn to two more groups of stakeholders that must be at the table and included in a governor’s executive order — advocacy groups and youth. 

In New Mexico, for example, the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness must be at the table. They are the largest advocacy group with a statewide network of programs and shelters having been advocating the longest. They are rich with knowledge and experience of the problem and the means to go about approaching it, but they need the backbone and support of the various state actors who can contribute collectively to build a much stronger network as well as a more formidable statewide approach.

For Homeless Youth, Surviving Is a Crime

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Youth homelessness is a tragedy, not a crime. But in cities across the country, homeless youth face civil and even criminal penalties for unavoidable human activities like standing, sitting and sleeping in the very streets where they’re trying to survive.

Homeless and Queer: A Vampire in Brooklyn

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Faith Alastair’s experience with homelessness is the first of three stories on LGBTQ homeless youth as reported by the JJIE’s New York City Bureau. They use gender-neutral pronouns.

host home: Smiling woman with red hair held back by black hairband stands at door.

Washington State Tries Host Homes, Permanency Navigators for Homeless Teens

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Nataya Foss remembers being told that she would soon have to leave the shelter. She had been staying in one of Washington state’s few shelters for unaccompanied homeless minors, but because of restrictions that come with government funding, the shelter could house her for only three weeks. Her time was almost up.

LGBT: Homeless Teenage Boy In Sleeping Bag On The Street

Homeless LGBT Youth: How We Can Fight Their Invisibility, Including Youth of Color

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Youth homelessness is a pervasive problem throughout the United States, and its rate has steadily risen over the years. According to the Center for American Progress, youth who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) are disproportionately affected by homelessness compared to their percentage in the overall population.

Homelessness Advocates Tell of New Successes Via State Legislation

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Some laws can make life exceptionally difficult for homeless and runaway youth. Whether it’s requiring parental consent to receive health care or demanding proof of residency to obtain a photo ID, unfriendly policies have left many service providers feeling frustrated and powerless to help. A small national nonprofit based in Washington is working to change that.