The Economic Consequences of Homelessness in The US

Youth Homelessness Matters Day is being celebrated nationwide, and in Sydney, the
NSW peak body for youth homelessness Yfoundations launched its education and
employment report 'Skills to Pay the Bills'.
Surveying 700 young people statewide, the report found unemployment among young
people experiencing homelessness was 55 percent, more than nine times the current
national unemployment rate of 5.9 percent and four times the current youth
unemployment rate of 13 percent. Young people experiencing homelessness also have
far lower high school completion rates than statewide averages.
Michelle Parker, the acting CEO of Yfoundation, said up to 60,000 young people
experienced homelessness in NSW last year. Statistics around youth homelessness are
difficult to pin down, due to the 'hidden homelessness' of young people who are couchsurfing
or staying with friends, or who do not consider themselves to be homeless and
therefore do not seek out services. However, statistics cited by various homelessness
experts include:
One in three people experiencing homelessness is under the age of 25;
One in eight people experiencing homelessness is under the age of 10;
39,000 school-age children needed homelessness help last year;
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