Children, Youth & Families

National and State Data

  • National Survey of Programs and Services for Homeless Families | Institute for Children, Poverty & Homelessness – This website maps state-level approaches to ending family homelessness and outlines governmental, nonprofit, and voluntary sector work in homeless issues, both at the national and local levels. The National Survey also compiles nationwide and local demographics of family homeless populations, tracks available funding sources for homeless services, and highlights community programs that serve homeless families.
  • 2011 Hunger & Homelessness Survey | US Conference of Mayors – This report presents the results of a survey of 29 of the cities which comprise The U.S. Conference of
    Mayors’ Task Force on Hunger and Homelessness. Respondents were asked to provide information on emergency food assistance and homeless services provided between September 1, 2010 and August 31, 2011.
  • The Heterogeneity of Homeless Youth in America: Examining Typologies (2011) | National Alliance to End Homelessness
  • America’s Youngest Outcasts 2010: State Report Card on Child Homelessness | National Center on Family Homelessness – This report presents the clearest snapshot yet of the 1.5 million children who are homeless each year—where they live and the consequences of their precarious situations.  The report documents the extent of child homelessness, child well-being, risk for child homelessness and policy and planning efforts for each state.  Recommendations for state and federal action are also included.

Clinical Guidelines

Health Care Delivery Strategies

Health Care Needs

  • A Tangled Web: Homeless Family Subpopulations and Their Overlapping Needs (2011) | Institute for Children, Poverty & Homelessness – Homeless families often have intense service needs resulting from mental illness, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, and veteran status. Unfortunately, most reports depict families as a homogenous group or lump them with homeless singles, which has resulted in a very limited picture of families. This report sheds light on the diversity and interconnectedness of homeless family subpopulations and stresses the importance of comprehensive data collection.
  • Trauma Among Homeless Youth (2007) | National Child Traumatic Stress Network – The prevalence of homeless youth is difficult to determine, but researchers estimate that 1 million to 1.6 million youth per year experience homelessness. Not surprisingly, homeless youth have significant mental health problems, including depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, suicidal ideation, and substance abuse disorders. These youth struggle to recover from both previous and new traumatic experiences while trying to survive in a hostile street environment.
  • Homeless Children: What Every Health Care Provider Should Know (2002) | Catherine Karr, MD, HCH Clinicians’ Network Children & Families Work Group – The goals of the presentations are to help viewers recognize homelessness and the risks of homelessness in families with children; to understand specific health problems of homeless children; to modify health care plans and prevention strategies appropriately; and to be able to find resources for homeless patients and their families.

Case Reports

Healing Hands Newsletters

Policy and Advocacy

Relevant Articles

Additional Online Resources