NYC report Preventing Young Adult Homelessness among Students at Risk

The transition to adulthood is a particularly difficult time for most youth, and this difficulty is magnified for young adults experiencing homelessness. These young people have often already survived adverse childhood experiences such as foster care, family conflict, and housing instability. Existing support systems designed for youth were strained by the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in heightened social isolation, trauma, financial stress, and reduced school engagement for these young people. Preventing homelessness among youth requires multifaceted approaches and presents new opportunities for cross-agency interventions.This research study by the New York City Center for Innovation through Data Intelligence (CIDI), conducted in collaboration with partners at the University of Pennsylvania, examines the characteristics and experiences of New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) students who experienced homelessness as young adults between the ages of 18-21. The study compares the experiences of these students to those of all students in NYCPS. Its goal is to enable the creation of new supports that facilitate pathways to success.