Transitional Housing is Essential for Youth and Young Families
Covenant House International, National Network for Youth, and SchoolHouse Connection have issued a new report demonstrating the power of an essential, but often under-resourced and under-prioritized housing model for young people: transitional housing.
The report, To Become the Best Version of Myself: Youth-Supportive Transitional Housing Programs As An Essential Resource for Addressing Youth Homelessness, shares new data demonstrating that transitional programs for youth and young adults are effective, and an essential and core element of efforts to prevent and solve youth homelessness.
Transitional housing for youth offers young people a stable place to live for a significant period of time and also provides case management and other supportive services, including behavioral health services, educational and career development assistance. For minors or young adults—including those who are pregnant and parenting—this can be an ideal approach that serves as a bridge from homelessness to lifelong stability.
The report finds that youth who access transitional housing, particularly for longer periods, experience positive outcomes related to housing, employment, education, and access to services. An analysis conducted by our teams at Covenant House International found that among 564 young people who exited transitional housing programs in 15 U.S. cities:
- 73% exited the program into stable housing
- 69% were employed or enrolled in school when they left the program
- Youth who stayed in the program longer were more likely to exit to stable housing, and to be employed when they exited the program
- Youth who identify as Black, Indigenous, or people of color (“BIPOC youth”) had higher rates of stable housing exits and higher rates of employment at exit (but lower rates of school enrollment)
Other findings demonstrate that transitional programs have positive outcomes in both rural and urban areas, and for minors as well as young adults.
“I left a difficult family situation and entered the Covenant House transitional living program, Rights of Passage, in Alaska,” said Dash Togi, a member of the youth panel who shared her lived experiences and provided insight and recommendations for the report. “It was at Rights of Passage I found the love and support of a family. There was a small group of young people from all different backgrounds, all going through different crisis situations. But we were all in it together, and we found what we had not had in our lives – a staff of supportive, caring adults. When I graduated from Rights of Passage and found my own apartment, I still had the lifelong friends I made. And I also still have the support of my case manager. I never feel like I am going through anything all alone anymore.”
“I not only got a safe, stable place to live, I got the ‘normal’ help that so many people experiencing homelessness don’t have access to,” said MiLinda Turner, National Network for Youth National Youth Advisory Council, North Dakota. “Things like help with job applications, doctor appointments, how to budget and write checks. I feel like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders with the personal support I received from staff and my peers in the program. Transitional living provided me a path to be successful and now I want to give back to other young people who may not have the support they need.”
“I hear it said a lot that when it comes to raising children, it all starts at home,” said Aja Ellington, MSW, National Network for Youth National Youth Advisory Council, Indiana. “But as a society we have to ask, what does that home situation look like? We need to collaborate better on the needs of young people who don’t have the support needed at home. The largest issue I think we face is resources. People have to decide that the essential support provided by transitional housing is a priority.”
Transitional housing programs will be even more essential in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. “COVID-19 had an immediate impact on housing providers, and all providers had to adapt quickly to continue serving youth and young families as safely as possible,” said David Howard, senior vice president of Research, Evaluation & Learning at Covenant House International. “In the wake of the pandemic, more young people are likely to experience homelessness, trauma, and increased economic barriers to self-sufficiency as they transition to adulthood, making transitional housing programs even more essential.”
To ensure that all young people experiencing homelessness can access what they need to avoid chronic adult homelessness, the report provides policy recommendations for Congress, federal agencies, and philanthropy. These recommendations include advocating for increased funding for the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act and amending HUD’s definition of homelessness so that the definition, eligibility requirements, and priorities reflect the lived experiences of young people. Those influencing philanthropy are encouraged to support programs that will best meet the needs of young people in their local communities, including transitional programs, rather than tying funding to federal priorities. The report indicates that too many families are required to stay in unsafe situations before they are able to access and are prioritized for appropriate services.
“Our vision is holistic, and needs to be so much more than brick and mortar,” said Barbara Duffield, executive director, SchoolHouse Connection. “The findings of this report confirm what we have been hearing from our young people -- that transitional housing ensures that youth and young adults experiencing homelessness -- including young parents and their children -- are able to access all that they need to sustainably exit homelessness and avoid chronic adult homelessness.
