Each year, an estimated 4.2 million youth and young adults experience homelessness, 700,000 of whom are minors who are not with a parent or guardian. These youth leave home for a variety of reasons, including severe family conflict, parental abuse or neglect, parental mental health issues, or substance abuse. Once on the street, unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness face numerous legal barriers that often complicate their attempts to meet their basic needs and obtain assistance from state agencies and service providers.
