Transforming Youth Homelessness via Mentality Adjustments and System Adaptations
Revised Article:
Youth homelessness is often overlooked and misunderstood, but it's a pressing issue that demands our attention. To shed light on this problem, we spoke with Larry Cohen, Co-Founder of Point Source Youth, an organization committed to changing systems and perceptions to help end youth homelessness in the USA.
Point Source Youth: A Caring Hand for Youth in Need
Point Source Youth, founded in 2015, aims to eliminate youth homelessness in America. According to Cohen, youth homelessness affects an astounding 3.5 million individuals each year, with a staggering 10% of all youth enduring unstable housing at some point.
unsettling reality is that 69% of homeless young adults report mental health issues, 33% spent time in the foster care system, and 50% have been entangled in the juvenile justice system. Clearly, the current system isn't working for them.
Point Source Youth recognizes these issues and focuses on empowering the next generation:
We prioritize solutions that give young people control over systems that have historically caused them harm.
What Causes Youth Homelessness?
The journey to homelessness is rarely a straightforward one, with a mix of factors contributing to the downfall. Some of the most common causes, as observed by Cohen, are:
- Family conflicts, often arising from religious or ideological differences, or stigmatization of the LGBTQ+ community,
- Trauma and rejection due to identification as LGBTQ+,
- Stuck in the foster care system due to family issues,
- Financial strain and increasing income inequality,
- Structural racism and systemic problems.
Cohen emphasizes that youth homelessness is a sign of a failing system and a massive missed opportunity to nurture creative, innovative individuals. It creates barriers that need to be broken down.
The Importance of Addressing Youth Homelessness
Beyond the moral imperative, examining youth homelessness is crucial for economic reasons as well:
Ethical Considerations
Homelessness, if left unchecked, can lead to the creation of a future generation of chronically homeless adults. This, in turn, inflicts daily harm on young people and impacts the overall socio-economic fabric.
Economic Impact
Monumental amounts of money are being spent on systems that are ineffective and provide little help to homeless youth—police, juvenile detention, incarceration, schools, emergency psychiatric care, and more. The vicious cycle can be stopped by shifting resources to empower and support homeless youth directly, fostering effective, youth-led solutions.
How does Point Source Youth help?
Point Source Youth's Approach
The organization works with young adults between the ages of 16 and 24. Here's an overview of their methods:
Rapid Re-Housing
A programme initiated under the Obama administration, rapid re-housing involves subsidising a family's first month's rent, security deposit, and lease ownership, allowing them to safely exit homelessness. This approach is replicated for youth, providing them with an apartment of their choosing at market rates for up to two years, coupled with job training, mental health support, and subsequent rent increases as they obtain employment.
Direct Cash Transfers
Financially strained families often struggle with conflict resolution. Removing family members from the equation is not always the best approach. Instead, Point Source Youth partners with organizations to provide cash transfers to cover two years of housing costs for 30-40 homeless youth, giving them control over their income while supporting their needs.
Host Homes
A safer alternative to foster care, host homes offer homeless youth temporary shelter with a mentor, family member, or peer. In Minnesota, Point Source Youth partners with schools to provide short-term shelter for high school students in need.
Family Strengthening
A method of working with youth and families through mediation and counseling to resolve conflicts, family strengthening places young people at the center of solutions for a brighter future.
Shaping the Future, One Young Person at a Time
In 2021, Point Source Youth expects to help around 16 young individuals with a budget of over $3 million. Funding is sourced from foundations, individuals, and large donors, with technical assistance and expertise provided to communities in need. As Cohen notes, "It's not easy, but the resources can be found if people genuinely care."
In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, youth homelessness has only worsened. Point Source Youth has adapted by leveraging digital media to connect with young people in need, providing support and resources virtually.
To eliminate youth homelessness, Cohen recommends repurposing government spending, offering accessible support services, and working to increase the available funding for homeless youth. He cements this approach as the key to creating positive change and giving youth the support they deserve. If you're inspired to join the cause, start by focusing on your community, co-creating solutions with homeless youth, and adopting a mindset of abundance.
Empowering youth, offering them safe spaces and expert support, and listening to their needs—that's the heart of Point Source Youth's mission. Learn more about their work by watching Larry Cohen's speech at the 5th Annual PSY National Symposium (2021). For more information on youth homelessness and Point Source Youth's programs, visit www.pointsourceyouth.org.
[1] National Alliance to End Homelessness. (n.d.). Understanding Youth Homelessness. Retrieved from www.endhomelessness.org/resources-publications/understanding-homelessness/understanding-youth-homelessness
[2] National Alliance to End Homelessness. (n.d.). Homelessness Among LGBTQ Youth. Retrieved from www.endhomelessness.org/resources-publications/understanding-homelessness/homelessness-among-lgbtq-youth
[3] Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.). Youth Homelessness. Retrieved from www.samhsa.gov/homelessness
[4] U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (2018). The Annual Homeless Assessment Report. Retrieved from www.hud.gov/program_offices/community_planning_and_development/programs/cse/2018/CR-17-37
[5] National Survey of Homeless Assistance Providers and Clients. (2009). National Alliance to End Homelessness. Retrieved from www.endhomelessness.org/resources-publications/understanding-homelessness/national-survey-of-homeless-assistance-providers-and-clients
Point Source Youth, a USA-based organization dedicated to ending youth homelessness, believes that addressing mental health issues is crucial in their mission. They prioritize mental health services to help young people overcome traumas, cope with stressors, and achieve better health-and-wellness outcomes.
Furthermore, Point Source Youth recognizes that mental health struggles are prevalent among homeless youth, with 69% reporting mental health issues, and they aim to provide support and resources to empower these individuals and address the root causes of their homelessness.
