Youth Homelessness Resources
Funders Together to End Homelessness is dedicated to preventing and ending youth homelessness. We have worked with funders from around the country to create a network of learning and action. These are resources will provide a snapshot of the current youth homelessness landscape for funders and support funders in identifying the role they can play in advancing the work happening both nationally and locally. We will be updating this page with timely resources as they become available, so be sure to check back often!
Upcoming Learning Opportunities
Member Call: COVID-19 Member Calls
Wednesdays | 3:00pm ET | 2:00pm CT | 1:00pm MT | 12:00pm PT
Funders Together is organizing multiple ways for our members to connect and share information about local responses to the impact of COVID-19 on people experiencing homelessness. In addition to regular webinars with field updates, we are organizing recurring, informal member calls for funders to share what they’re seeing and doing and to seek support from other members.
To sign up for this member call, visit the event page.
Point Source Youth Weekly Calls
Wednesdays | 2:00pm ET | 1:00pm CT | 12:00pm MT | 11:00am PT
Point Source Youth is producing weekly COVID-19 webinars over the next 90 days to ensure that the National Youth Homelessness Community has direct access to leading experts across relevant fields amidst the Coronavirus Pandemic.
- April 1st: The Impact of COVID-19 on the Youth Homelessness Crisis: What Providers Need to Know
- April 8th: The Renewed Importance of Direct Cash Transfers in Ending Youth Homelessness During the COVID-19 Pandemic
To register for their weekly call, visit Point Source Youth's website.
Funders Together Resources
Past Webinars
Authentically Sharing Power with Young People
This webinar explored how YouthPrise has engaged young people in their mission to reduce disparities with and for Minnesota youth, involved discussion about the range of ways foundations can share power with young people authentically, and shared lessons learned and opportunities in engaging young people in the decision making process.
Removing Barriers for Youth Experiencing Homelessness
In this webinar, Casey Trupin, JD from Raikes Foundation moderated a panel of representatives from the American Bar Association, Equal Justice Works, the Family and Youth Service Bureau, and Homeless Persons Representation Project. They explored the importance of eliminating obstacles and increasing legal services for this population. We discussed how funders can support this important work to help remove barriers for youth seeking to secure identification, school enrollment, housing, employment, and much more.
Opportunities for Impact with Host Homes
In this webinar, we are joined by Larry Cohen and Orlando Roybal from Point Source Youth, Elvis Guzman from The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, and Tammy Marsashlian from United Way of Greater Los Angeles to discuss the work that is happening in Baltimore and Los Angeles around Host Homes, how funders are currently engaging in this work, and where they are additional opportunities.
Blog Posts
What Funders Can Learn From LGBTQ Youth Experiencing Homelessness
What can funders learn from LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness? Our CEO, Amanda Andere, joined Kahlib Barton, True Colors United; Rivianna Hyatt, True Colors United; and Kelli King-Jackson, The Simmons Foundation to discuss this at the Funders for LGBTQ Issues Funding Forward convening in March.
Nothing About Us Without Us: Takeaways from the 2018 True Colors Fund Impact Summit
Lauren Samblanet, FTEH Program Membership Coordinator, reflects on key takeaways for philanthropy from the 2018 True Colors Fund Summit.
Ending Youth Homelessness: What Funders Need To Know
The Foundation for Youth Success presents their initial learnings.
Redefining "Community-wide" Responses to Youth Homelessness
Read about what Katie Hong of the Raikes Foundation took away from the Foundations from Youth Success convening in Toronto
Resources From Our Members
Preventing and Ending Youth and Youth Adult Homelessness: Lessons From Five Years of Systems-Focused Grantmaking in King County, Washington (2016)
Raikes Foundation
Hidden in Plain Sight: Homeless Students in America's Public Schools
Commissioned by the Raikes Foundation, created by Civic Enterprises and America's Promise Alliance
Our Journey to Advocacy
Campion Foundation
LGBTQ Youth Homelessness Funder Briefing [Video]
The Simmons Foundation
Partners in the Work
Chapin Hall
From 2015 to 2017, Chapin Hall conducted the most comprehensive examination to date of youth homelessness, Voices of Youth Count, which incorporates youth voices to develop achievable solutions. Since the Fall of 2017, Chapin Hall has published nine seminal reports on youth experiencing homelessness, which can be found below in the Research and Solutions Resources section.
A Way Home America
A national initiative to build the movement to prevent and end homelessness among young people.
True Colors United
True Colors United implements innovative solutions to youth homelessness that focus on the unique experiences of LGBTQ young people.
Point Source Youth
Point Source Youth works to scale-up effective solutions to end youth homelessness by supporting interventions through regional experts and strong partnerships.
Youth Collaboratory
Youth Collaboratory provides consultation and technical assistance, as well as grant writing support to youth serving organizations and communities that are working to innovate, collaborate, and replicate effective practices.
Research and Solutions Resources
Voices of Youth Count Nine Reports
1. Youth Homelessness in America
2. LGBTQ Youth Homelessness in America
3. Pregnant and Parenting Youth Experiencing Homelessness in America
4. Counting Youth Experiencing Homelessness in America
5. Youth Homelessness in Rural America
6. Missed Opportunities in Youth Pathways through Homelessness in America
7. Pathways from Foster Care to Youth Homelessness in America
8. Evidence on Interventions for Addressing Youth Homelessness
9. Education Among Youth Experiencing Homelessness in America
Federal Framework to End Youth Homelessness
February 01, 2013, USICH
Preventing and Ending Youth Homelessness: A Coordinated Community Response
September 18, 2015
The Cost of Homelessness
2015, Foldes Consulting, LLC
A Way Home America Transition Plan- Actions and Strategies to End Youth Homelessness
2016, A Way Home America
Challenges and Pilots in Youth Homelessness
Youth homelessness has a range of challenges and pilots that are catalyzing communities to collaborate across systems, as well as with young people experiencing homelessness. Learn more about these challenges and pilots.
Policy Resources
Alone Without A Home
National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty
State Index on Youth Homelessness
True Colors United
Policy Agenda
National Youth Forum on Homelessness
The Age Structure of Contemporary Homelessness: Evidence and Implications for Public Policy
January 2013, University of Pennsylvania
Criteria and Benchmarks for Achieving the Goal of Ending Youth Homelessness
January 13, 2017
National Guidance on Emergency Homeless Services for Youth and Young Adults
April 2020
What Funders Can Learn from LGBTQ Youth Experiencing Homelessness
What can funders learn from LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness? Our CEO, Amanda Andere, joined Kahilb Barton, True Colors United; Rivianna Hyatt, True Colors United; and Kelli King-Jackson, The Simmons Foundation to discuss this at the Funders for LGBTQ Issues Funding Forward convening in March.
Read more
Nothing About Us Without Us: Takeaways from the 2018 True Colors Fund Impact Summit
Lauren Samblanet, FTEH Program and Membership Coordinator, reflects on key takeaways for philanthropy from the 2018 True Colors Fund Summit in October.
Read more
Missed Opportunities: Youth Homelessness in America
Missed Opportunities: National Estimates highlights results from a national survey on unaccompanied youth homelessness in America. The study captures youth homelessness broadly, including sleeping on the streets, in shelters, running away, being kicked out, and couch surfing. Overall, findings show one in 10 young adults ages 18-25, and at least one in 30 adolescents ages 13-17, experience some form of homelessness unaccompanied by a parent or guardian over the course of a year. As a nation, we are missing opportunities to ensure that all young people can reach their full potential and contribute to stronger communities and economies across the country.
Read the full report here.
Source: Voices of Youth Count