Youth who run away or experience homelessness have higher rates of alcohol and drug use than their peers. These differences are especially apparent for illicit drug use1 and are higher for youth on the street compared to those in shelters.2
These youth also experience higher rates of a number of psychiatric disorders (e.g., depression, anxiety, and conduct disorders)5 and often lack access to health and behavioral health care.6
Many of these youth, about 66 percent, met the criteria for co-morbid disorders.7
Running away and experiencing homelessness are also linked to long term substance abuse and mental health issues. Runaway youth were more likely to be dependent on drugs and show depressive symptoms at age 21 than youth who had not run away after controlling for early substance use, depressive symptoms, lack of parental support, school disengagement, general delinquency, and demographic characteristics.8
Because of the individualized and complex needs of runaway and homeless youth, one way to help youth address their behavioral health needs is through intensive case management. This can help youth navigate the health care system and understand how to fulfill their health care needs.9 A study of youth in Washington who received intensive case management found that they had fewer externalizing behaviors, less aggression, and a higher quality of life rating compared to those who received the normal treatment.10 Providing homeless youth with access to substance abuse and mental health treatment through federal programs and federally supported community-based programs can also help homeless youth facing behavioral health challenges access treatment.
Homelessness Resource Center: Homeless Populations
The Homelessness Resource Center, supported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is an interactive community of providers, consumers, policymakers, researchers, and public agencies at federal, state, and local levels. The Center shares state-of-the-art knowledge and promising practices to prevent and end homelessness through the following:
The Center includes a section focused specifically on youth.
Runaway and Homeless Youth Training and Technical Assistance Center
This is a centralized national resource for Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) grantees funded by the Family and Youth Services Bureau at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Training and Technical Assistance Services are directed at assisting RHY grantees to engage in continuous quality improvement of their services and to build their capacity to effectively serve runaway and homeless youth.
Health Care for the Homeless
This site from the Health Resources and Services Administration provides lists of grantees, patients by age and gender, patients by race/ethnicity/language, patients by socioeconomic characteristics, selected diagnoses and services rendered, and staffing and utilization. Of these grantees, 117,411 youth under the age of 20 were served according to data updated in 2009.
Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness (PATH)
The PATH program is administered by the Center for Mental Health Services, a component of SAMHSA. The PATH program provides formula grants to the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands for people with serious mental illness, including those with co-occurring substance use disorders, who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of becoming homeless. PATH services include community-based outreach, mental health, substance abuse, case management, and other support services, as well as a limited set of housing services. While some states provide services to youth under the age of 18, most do not.
Services in Supportive Housing (SSH)
SAMHSA’s SSH program helps prevent and reduce chronic homelessness by funding services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness living with a severe mental and/or substance use disorder. Grants are awarded competitively for up to five years to community-based public or nonprofit entities. Services supported under the SSH funding include, but are not limited to, outreach and engagement, intensive case management, mental health and substance abuse treatment, and assistance in obtaining benefits.
Grants for the Benefit of Homeless Individuals (GBHI)
GBHI is a competitively awarded grant program from SAMHSA that enables communities to expand and strengthen their treatment services for people experiencing homelessness. Grants are awarded for up to five years to community-based public or nonprofit entities and funded programs and services include substance abuse treatment, mental health services, wrap-around services, immediate entry into treatment, outreach services, screening and diagnostic services, staff training, case management, primary health services, job training, educational services, and relevant housing services.
1 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2008; Greene, Ennett, & Ringwalt, 1997; SAMHSA, 2004; Nyamathi, Hudson, Greengold, Slagle, Marfisee, Khalilifard, & Leake, 2010
2 Greene, Ennett, & Ringwalt, 1997
3 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2008
4 SAMHSA, 2004
5 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2008; HRSA, 2001
6 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2008; HRSA, 2001
7 Chen, Thrane, Whitbeck, & Johnson, 2006
8 Tucker, Rdelen, Ellickson, & Klein, 2011
9 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2008; HRSA, 2001
10 Cauce et al., 1994
Map My Community is a tool designed specifically to assist you in locating resources in your community to help you build and strengthen your youth program. Get ideas for new partnerships, identify gaps in your community, and learn about resources to avoid duplication of effort.
FindYouthInfo.gov is the U.S. government Web site that helps you create, maintain, and strengthen effective youth programs. Included are youth facts, funding information, and tools to help you assess community assets, generate maps of local and federal resources, search for evidence-based youth programs, and keep up-to-date on the latest, youth-related news.