Consequences of
Young Adult Homelessness
Mental and Physical Health Risks
The connection between homelessness and the decline of youth mental and physical health is undeniable. Studies show that youth facing homelessness experience significant mental and physical health challenges, which are both a cause and consequence of their housing instability.
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An estimated 50% of homeless youth experience untreated mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, PTSD, and suicidal ideation (National Network for Youth).
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Substance abuse vulnerability
Without housing security, self-medication through drugs and alcohol becomes a coping mechanism, exacerbating health risks.
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Physical health crisis
Young adults living on the streets suffer from malnutrition, exposure-related illnesses (hypothermia, respiratory infections), and untreated chronic conditions due to lack of healthcare access.
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Lack of preventative care
Many homeless young adults lack medical insurance or access to clinics, leading to untreated illnesses, injuries, and dental issues that significantly reduce their quality of life.
Exploitation & Victimization
Exploitation, victimization, abuse and trafficking are harsh realities for young adults without stable housing or protective support systems.
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Sexual Exploitation & Human Trafficking
An estimated 1 in 3 homeless young adults is approached by traffickers within 48 hours of becoming homeless (National Center for Missing & Exploited Children).
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Survival Sex
Many young adults resort to exchanging sex for food, shelter, or safety, further deepening their vulnerability.
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Workforce Exploitation
Homeless youth are frequently coerced into exploitative labor, working for low or no wages in unsafe conditions.
Repeating Patterns of Homelessness
The cycle of trauma for homeless youth is rarely an isolated event. Instead, it is a generational and systemic issue, rooted in early childhood trauma, abuse, family instability, and lack of support networks.
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Foster Care to Homelessness Pipeline
Nationally, 25% of former foster youth become homeless within two to four years of aging out. In North Carolina, 94% of eligible youth do not receive critical transitional support services (EdNC).
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Repeated Trauma
The experience of homelessness reinforces existing trauma, worsening mental health issues and decreasing the likelihood of long-term stability.
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Lack of Educational Continuity
Youth without stable housing are less likely to complete high school or pursue higher education, reducing employment prospects and economic independence.
Homelessness & Crime
When homelessness meets desperation, a dangerous intersection occurs. With no access to basic needs and opportunities, many homeless youth become entangled in the criminal justice system—not because they are inherently criminal, but because their survival depends on activities that the legal system punishes rather than addresses:
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Survival Crimes
Homeless youth may engage in theft, drug sales, or trespassing to secure food, shelter, or money.
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Over-policing & Criminalization
Youth experiencing homelessness are arrested at rates up to 10 times higher than housed youth (Coalition for Juvenile Justice).
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Lack of Rehabilitation Services
Without intervention, youth caught in the cycle of homelessness and incarceration face long-term barriers to employment, housing, and financial independence.
