November Is Youth And Young Adult Homelessness Awareness Month

The Council adopted a resolution recognizing November 2025 as Youth and Young Adult Homelessness Awareness Month.

The resolution highlights that 1 in 30 youth ages 13 to 17 and 1 in 10 young adults ages 18 to 25 in the United States will experience some form of homelessness this year. Many factors contribute to youth and young adult homelessness, including neglect, lack of housing security, family rejection due to sexual orientation or gender identity, aging out of foster care, intergenerational poverty, abuse, and lack of employment.

Nationally, the number of unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness increased by 10% between 2023 and 2024, with a 14.4% increase in major cities. The resolution cites data showing that youth and young adults with intersectional identities are at greater risk, with 65% of unaccompanied youth and young adults in Massachusetts identifying as BIPOC and 26% identifying as LGBTQ+.

Among LGBTQ+ youth of color in Greater Boston, 32.7% are unemployed, 15.5% are unstably housed, and 30.9% are food insecure. LGBTQ+ youth are 120% more likely to experience homelessness than their cisgender heterosexual peers, and 28% have experienced homelessness or housing instability. Transgender youth report the highest rates of homelessness and discrimination in the shelter system, with a 28% increase in transgender youth homelessness from 2022 to 2023.

The resolution also notes that data on youth homelessness likely underestimates the problem due to inconsistent definitions and underreporting, particularly among LGBTQIA+ youth. Nationally, 29% of unaccompanied homeless youth have spent time in foster care, and 46% have spent time in juvenile detention, jail, or prison.

Locally, more than 5,000 Boston Public Schools students experienced homelessness during the 2023-2024 school year. The January 31, 2024, Boston Annual Homelessness Census identified 132 unaccompanied youth up to age 24, a 17.9% increase from 2023, and 1,150 families, a 1.7% increase, who were sleeping on the street or staying in shelters or transitional housing. Youth experiencing homelessness in Massachusetts identify transportation as one of the most significant barriers to accessing shelter and long-term housing.

The resolution commits the Council to continuing awareness efforts year-round and commends organizations and volunteers working to prevent youth and young adult homelessness.

• Last updated: November 3, 2025

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