Facts about Youth Experiencing Homelessness
On October 25, 2012, a statewide study counted 10,214 homeless adults, youth and children - a 6 percent increase over the 2009 study. Initial findings show nearly half (46%) of all homeless people are age 21 and younger, of which 3,546 were children with their parents. The one-day study also counted 1,151 youth on their own, including 146 youth age 17 and younger and 1,005 age 18 through 21. The count under-represents the total homeless population since many homeless people outside the shelter system are not found on the day of the study, especially youth. The number of homeless and precariously housed youth in the suburbs are one of the hardest group to count.

