In King County, Washington, the most recent point-in-time count showed nearly 1,500 young people (under the age of 25) currently experiencing homelessness. Of those 1,500 young people, 221 were under the age of 18, and nearly 80 percent were unsheltered (which can mean anything from living in a car, to an abandoned building, or a tent).

We know that homeless young people are disproportionately likely to suffer from depression and to think about suicide, and we also know that they are significantly less likely to graduate from high school than their peers. But homelessness doesn’t mean hopelessness.

You can learn more about homeless young people and strategies for ending youth homelessness below.

A Path Forward for Homeless Youth in Washington State - Washington's Office of Homeless Youth recently completed the state's first plan to solve youth homelessness. Casey Trupin— a  program officer at the Raikes Foundation—chaired  the office's advisory committee and helped shape this important new path forward for the state.

Expanded Legal Services for Homeless Youth - Young people experiencing homelessness often face multiple legal challenges that can prolong their homelessness and prevent them from moving forward with school, work, and other goals. That’s why the by the Raikes Foundation is funding a year-long pilot program, in partnership with Legal Counsel for Youth and Children, Street Youth Legal Advocates for Washington, and YouthCare, that will provide 2,600 hours of pro-bono legal help for young people experiencing homelessness.

Hidden in Plain Sight -  This groundbreaking report, produced by America’s Promise Alliance and Civic Enterprises, outlines the extent of our country’s student homelessness crisis as well as opportunities to address the problem.

Helping Our Homeless Students – Across the country more than 1 million students experience homelessness every year, including disproportionately large numbers of students of color and young people who identify as LGBT.