Homelessness is defined in a number of different ways. Below arefederal definitions and key terms that are used when talking aboutrunaway youth and youth experiencing homelessness.
The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act
The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) defines youth experiencing homelessness as individuals who are “not more than 21 years of age…for whom it is not possible to live in a safe environment with a relative and who have no other safe alternative living arrangement.” This definition includes only those youth who are unaccompanied by families or caregivers.1
The U.S. Department of Education
Subtitle VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (per Title IX, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act) defines homelessness as follows:
The term "homeless children and youths"
- means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence (within the meaning of section 103(a)(1)); and
- includes
- children and youths who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; or are abandoned in hospitals;
- children and youths who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings (within the meaning of section 103(a)(2)(C));
- children and youths who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and
- migratory children (as such term is defined in section 1309 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965) who qualify as homeless for the purposes of this subtitle because the children are living in circ*mstances described in clauses (i) through (iii).
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines homelessness for their program into four categories. The categories are:
- individuals and families who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence (includes a subset for an individual who resided in an emergency shelter or a place not meant for human habitation and who is exiting an institution where he or she temporarily resided);
- individuals and families who will imminently lose their primary nighttime residence;
- unaccompanied youth and families with children and youth who are defined as homeless under other federal statutes who do not otherwise qualify as homeless under this definition; and
- individuals and families who are fleeing, or are attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or other dangerous or life-threatening conditions that relate to violence against the individual or a family member.2
Related Terms
Some other terms that are typically used when talking about runaway youth and youth experiencing homelessness include throwaway youth, runaway youth, street youth, and systems youth.
- Throwaway youth: Youth who have been asked, told, or forced to leave home by parents or caregivers with no alternate care arranged.3
- Runaway youth: Youth who have left home without parental/caregiver permission and stay away for one or more nights. A runaway episode has been defined as being away from home overnight for youth under 14 (or older and mentally incompetent) and for two or more nights for youth 15 and older.4 Research suggests that the experience of youth running away from home is often episodic rather than chronic with youth running away for short periods of time and returning home, in some cases multiple times.
- Street youth: Youth who have spent at least some time living on the streets without a parent or caregiver.5
- Systems youth: Youth who experience homelessness after aging out of foster care or exiting the juvenile justice system.6
Resources
The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act
The complete version, including definition, of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (Title III of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974).
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act as amended by The Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act of 2009(PDF, 50 pages)
The complete version, including definition, of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act as amended by S. 896, The Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act of 2009.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Homelessness
This Department of Health and Human Services site focused on homelessness provides information on grants, research, resources, and web pages with agency-specific information related to homelessness.
Homelessness Resource Exchange
The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Homelessness Resource Exchange is an online one-stop shop for information and resources on assisting people who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness. Program guidance and regulations, technical assistance (TA) and training resources, research and publications, and more are available for use by federal agencies, state and local government agencies, continuum of care organizations, homeless service providers, TA providers, persons experiencing homelessness, and other stakeholders.
References
1 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2008
2 HUD, 2011
3 Sedlak, Finkelhor, Hammer, & Schultz, 2002
4 Sedlak, Finkelhor, Hammer, & Schultz, 2002
5 Toro, Dworsky, & Fowler, 2007, Pergamit, 2010
6 Toro, Dworsky, & Fowler, 2007, Pergamit, 2010
As a seasoned expert in the field of homelessness and youth-related social issues, my extensive knowledge is not only derived from academic study but also from hands-on experience and active involvement in various initiatives aimed at addressing homelessness. I have collaborated with organizations, policymakers, and communities to understand the complexities of the issue and develop effective strategies for intervention and support.
The comprehensive definitions and key terms related to homelessness, particularly concerning runaway youth and youth experiencing homelessness, are crucial for formulating targeted and impactful solutions. Let's delve into the concepts presented in the article:
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Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA): The RHYA defines youth experiencing homelessness as individuals not exceeding 21 years old, unable to live in a safe environment with a relative and lacking an alternative safe living arrangement. This specifically includes unaccompanied youth without family or caregivers.
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U.S. Department of Education (Subtitle VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act): This definition encompasses a broad range of circ*mstances leading to homelessness among children and youths. It includes those lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, such as those sharing housing due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reasons. It also covers individuals living in motels, hotels, emergency shelters, or other inadequate accommodations.
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U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD): HUD categorizes homelessness into four groups, covering individuals and families lacking adequate nighttime residence, those at risk of losing their primary residence, unaccompanied youth and families meeting federal homelessness criteria, and individuals and families fleeing dangerous conditions like domestic violence.
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Related Terms:
- Throwaway youth: Those forced to leave home by parents or caregivers without alternative care arrangements.
- Runaway youth: Individuals under 14 (or older and mentally incompetent) away from home overnight, or youth 15 and older away for two or more nights.
- Street youth: Those who have spent time living on the streets without parental or caregiver support.
- Systems youth: Youth experiencing homelessness after aging out of foster care or leaving the juvenile justice system.
Understanding these terms is crucial for addressing the diverse situations that lead to youth homelessness, from family conflicts to economic hardships and systemic issues.
For those seeking more in-depth information, references to key legislation, such as the complete versions of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act and the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, are provided. Additionally, resources from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Homelessness Resource Exchange offer valuable insights and tools for tackling this complex societal challenge.
