Homeless Youth

This study explored the perceptions and experiences related to pregnancy and parenting support among youth while homeless. This study employed a qualitative descriptive design using data collected from focus group discussions. We assessed the experiences and perceptions of youth related to pregnancy and parenting support. Eighty-one youth participated in eight focus group discussions and were recruited from shelters, drop-in centers, and organizations that serve youth in a large metropolitan areas in the southern United States. Thematic content analyses were used to generate results from the qualitative data. Four main themes emerged: youth encountered barriers to accessing healthcare services at the individual and system levels; pregnancy and parenting are stressful, especially during homelessness; support can help overcome the stresses of parenting; and embracing responsibility or “stepping up” is a positive influence of pregnancy and parenting during homelessness. Youth experiencing homelessness (YEH) face significant challenges to accessing healthcare services and adjusting to the parental role. Interventions for pregnant and parenting youth should be co-designed with and tailored for youth and address the existing health inequities within the healthcare and social service systems.

LGBTQ+ individuals are at increased risk of suicide. Homelessness further increases the risk, as does family-of-origin rejection. A model that combines suicidal risk factors and minority stress theory is useful in clinical practice. An openness to “hearing” the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals is essential to treatment. An LGBTQ+ affirming therapeutic approach is recommended. It is also frequently helpful to rebuild family relationships and support for the LGBTQ+ individual, particularly with younger youth. Principles of practice are described and illustrated.

Financial challenges, social and material instability, familial problems, living conditions, structural issues, and mental health problems have been shown to contribute to youth homelessness. Based on the paucity of literature on mental illness as a reason for youth homelessness, the current study retrospectively evaluated the association between the timing of homelessness onset (youth versus adult) and mental illness as a reason for homelessness among homeless adults living in homeless shelters and/or receiving services from homeless-serving agencies. Homeless participants (N = 919; 67.3% men) were recruited within two independent studies from Dallas and Oklahoma. Covariate-adjusted logistic regressions were used to measure associations between homelessness onset and mental illness as a reason for current homelessness, history of specific mental illnesses, the historical presence of severe mental illness, and severe mental illness comorbidity. Overall, 29.5% of the sample reported youth-onset homelessness and 24.4% reported mental illness as the reason for current homelessness. Results indicated that mental illness as a reason for current homelessness, history of specific mental illnesses, Schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder, history of severe mental illness, and severe mental illness comorbidities were each associated with increased odds of youth-onset homelessness. A better understanding of these relationships could inform needs for early interventions and/or better prepare agencies that serve at-risk youth to address precursors to youth homelessness.