In the world of homelessness, young people can easily fall between the service cracks. Often resilient, inclined to bravado in the face of life’s setbacks, unfortunately not all youth homelessness is an adventuring choice.
For those who’ve had a childhood of misfortune and neglect, it may well mean that some, or even most, of their growing up has been in foster care. Aging out of foster care can be a tragedy in the making, far from an exciting life of adult freedom and new life choices to look forward to. Landlords are not inclined to rent housing to young people, even for teens/young adults with money for rent. A common result: the mandatory exit from foster care means homelessness. And programs that back them to leave homelessness can be thin on the ground.
The article below describes an encouraging exception, a program and facility in Eugene, Oregon, which supports teenage boys who are homeless for whatever reason. Read/watch more at NBC KMTR: Apartments in Eugene to house homeless teen boys, help them learn to live on their own
