{"id":16470,"date":"2021-03-26T09:00:19","date_gmt":"2021-03-26T13:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress-537697-2997182.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=16470"},"modified":"2022-10-09T06:29:54","modified_gmt":"2022-10-09T10:29:54","slug":"study-highlights-impacts-of-covid-19-on-youth-homelessness-across-the-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress-537697-2997182.cloudwaysapps.com\/study-highlights-impacts-of-covid-19-on-youth-homelessness-across-the-us\/","title":{"rendered":"Study Highlights Impacts of COVID-19 on Youth Homelessness across the US"},"content":{"rendered":"
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COVID-19 will significantly increase the likelihood today\u2019s youth will experience chronic homelessness and poverty, according to a new study.<\/p>\n

The \u201c2020 State of Youth Homelessness Index\u201d is the third annual report published by The National Homeless Law Center (NHLC) and True Colors United. It aims to identify systemic shortfalls that need to be addressed and makes evidence-based recommendations based on methods other jurisdictions have used to end youth homelessness.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile the landscape of youth homelessness systems, laws, and policies have changed little on the surface, young people across the US and the agencies who serve them\u2014and indeed all of us including those beyond the field of housing justice\u2014have had our worlds turned upside down,\u201d the report\u2019s authors, Dylan Waguespack, of True Colors United and Brandy Ryan of NHLC, wrote in a letter to readers.<\/p>\n

Researchers analyzed the local systems, environment, and laws of all 50 states and the District of Columbia as they relate to solving youth homelessness. Their findings are meant to paint \u201ca broad picture of where states currently stand\u2026 and how they can collectively and individually improve their efforts to end and prevent youth homelessness,\u201d the 127-page document<\/a>\u00a0reads.<\/p>\n

Each state is graded on a 100-point scale. Some of the criteria include ensuring youths receive comprehensive supports and services, preventing entry into the criminal justice system, and providing unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness the opportunity to seek legal independence.<\/h4>\n

Overall, 2020 was the first year that the nation\u2019s average score was above 50 percent, up two points from 2019, according to the report. Meanwhile, the only jurisdiction to earn 90 points or more was Washington D.C.<\/p>\n

Only 29 states scored more than 50 points. Six states\u2014Washington, Connecticut, Massachusetts, California, New York, and Maine\u2014each earned passing grades of 70 points or greater. Another 27 states earned critically low scores, totaling less than half of the available points.<\/p>\n

What Is Working?<\/h3>\n

States that are successfully addressing youth homelessness share several things in common, according to the report. These include:<\/p>\n