Millions of youth experience homelessness on their own each year, facing serious risks without the support of a parent or guardian. This page explains who these young people are, why they may be on their own, what they need—and how schools and communities can support them.
While most youth under the age of 18 experience homelessness with their families, a significant number are homeless on their own. In fact, at least 700,000 youth ages 13 to 17 experience homelessness each year without a parent or guardian across rural, suburban, and urban communities alike. When young people ages 18-25 are included, that number grows to an estimated 4.2 million youth and young adults.
Most youth experience homelessness on their own due to severe family dysfunction, often worsened by poverty. Common reasons include:
While many young people experience homelessness alongside their families, a significant number are completely on their own. At least 700,000 youth between 13 to 17 are homeless without a parent or guardian. Navigating life without stable housing, consistent care, or adult support.
Also referred to as “unaccompanied homeless youth” —they are often invisible, misunderstood, or overlooked.
Shakara shares that as a young person, “When I thought about the word ‘homeless’…I thought about ‘on the street.’ I never really considered there’s different forms. And to even put myself in that box.”
Youth often become homeless because home isn’t safe. They might be escaping abuse, neglect, family conflict, or parental situations involving substance abuse or mental health challenges.
“My mom and my dad both struggled with substance abuse and mental health issues. My dad was in an abusive relationship and she started to get abusive with me. And then eventually he just kicked me out. And I had to literally just figure it out from there. It was just as much couch surfing as I could until it got to the point where, okay, I literally have nowhere else to go,” says Shakara.
Foster care is often assumed to be a safety net. Yet many youth avoid foster care out of fear. While many others are unable to access foster care due to systemic barriers.
Shakara shares, “I remember trying to put myself into the system and I was like, ‘Hey, I don’t have anywhere to go.’ Like at this point. I want to go into the system. And I remember the system actually telling me no.”
On their own, these young people juggle a lot. Finding safe places to stay, getting enough food, handling their own healthcare, keeping up with school work, and sometimes even, financially supporting their families.
“I was working full-time with being in school. Majority of my checks came to mostly just getting the hygiene needs that I needed, school fees and different things like that. These dollar pizzas. I would buy like 15 of them probably for two weeks. My brother and sister went days without eating. Close to being kicked out of the hotel room and switching from different hotel to hotel,” says Shakara.
Homelessness leaves lasting emotional and mental scars. Often forcing youth to live in constant survival mode.
“I knew what that felt like as a kid to not be protected and to not, you know, get the things that you need. And I just didn’t want that for my brother and sister. I wanted them to be a kid as long as they possibly can. No matter what that meant. Even if it meant taking from myself. I was willing to do that for them.”
To really support these young people, communities and schools need to understand their experiences, offer the right kind of help, and encourage youth to speak up for what they need. Education gives youth a sense of stability, routine, and support—helping them imagine and build a better future.
Shakara shares, “Something that really helped me to keep going, I just imagined myself walking across that stage. Did I imagine myself to be walking across the stage as top two of my class? Absolutely not. With as many acknowledgements and accomplishments as I did? Absolutely not. But the fact that I was able to walk…It was everything.”
For many, succeeding in school is their best chance at finding lasting stability and independence in life.
“Education is everything. If you don’t have that there’s no way out.”
Federal education law defines “unaccompanied homeless youth” as a child or youth who is experiencing homelessness and who is not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian. 42 USC 11434a(6). Homelessness includes:
Federal laws vary, but the most common upper age limit for who is considered a youth is age 25 and under. Many children under the age of 13 also meet the federal definition of “homeless” and “unaccompanied.” In fact, Congress added the word “child” to the education definition of “unaccompanied homeless youth” in order to clarify that younger students who are homeless and not in the custody of a parent or guardian should be considered unaccompanied youth,
Youth who experience homelessness on their own face extreme risks to their health, safety, education, and well-being:
Under the McKinney-Vento Act, unaccompanied youth must:
Consider the use of a caregiver form when an unaccompanied youth enrolls in order to document an emergency contact for the youth.
Unaccompanied youth should not be reported automatically to child protective services; automatic referrals create barriers to the school enrollment and retention of these students.
This brief is intended for state policymakers, educators, and advocates seeking to improve outcomes for youth who are experiencing homelessness without the support of a parent or guardian. It explains how state laws can help unaccompanied homeless youth access housing, health care, education, and other essential services.
This document includes 35 states, and the District of Columbia, with laws allowing minors who are living on their own, including unaccompanied minors experiencing homelessness, to consent for routine health care, which should include vaccinations unless explicitly exempted.
This document summarizes state laws that recognize the need for unaccompanied homeless youth under age 18 to have legal rights to housing, shelter, and basic services.