Reducing teen, young adult homelessness in Nebraska
Young people leaving state care are at significant risk of living on the street.
Nebraska is leading a statewide initiative to reduce teen and young adult homelessness by leveraging its large role within the state’s efforts to combat homelessness.
Nebraska’s Center on Children, Families and the Law is bringing together organizations, government agencies and affected youth from across the state. Together, they are developing lasting solutions to identify at-risk and unsheltered young people and provide the support they need to stay housed.
“It’s part of our community service mission,” said project co-leader Jeff Chambers, senior project director at the center. “The impacts of homelessness are devastating and life-altering.”
Lacking family or other support systems, up to 40% of young people exiting foster care end up homeless at some point, Chambers said. Other vulnerable populations include those in the juvenile justice system.
Over 1,600 Nebraskans ages 13 to 24 are unsheltered or at risk of becoming homeless, a number derived from those who access services that likely undercounts the actual figure. Rural and urban young people are affected equally.
The center leads two of the state’s three continuum of care groups, which coordinate U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development homelessness funding. Its leadership role allowed the center to facilitate statewide coordination across agencies.
No one can thrive without a home.
Jeff Chambers
Participants include, for the first time, all three continuum of care groups; the Winnebago and Ponca tribes; and formerly unsheltered rural, urban and tribal young people who are providing insight via seven Youth Action Boards.
Solutions are sometimes as simple as ensuring every youth exiting care receives a HUD voucher, a requirement often unmet in Nebraska, Chambers said.
Other solutions are more complex, such as providing people with the behavioral health and educational services they need to succeed.
“No one can thrive without a home,” Chambers said. “I can’t succeed or be a productive student or employee if I’m worried about where I’m going to sleep tonight. It’s tough enough being a 20-year-old without any support systems trying to make your way in life.”
Brittany Brakenhoff, research assistant professor in the center, co-leads the project, which is funded by HUD.
Additional Content
Brittany Brakenhoff and Jeff Chambers lead CCFL’s efforts to improve youth homelessness supports.