Why do young people end up homeless?
The most common reasons have to do with poverty, family conflict, child abuse and mental illness and/or chemical dependency issues of the youth or their family members. Most homeless youth, 63 percent, cannot live with their families because of conflict or abuse; 15 percent cannot live with their families because of lack of adequate housing or space; seven percent have been kicked out by their families because of their sexual orientation or gender identity; and another 15 percent have a parent or guardian that cannot provide housing for them because of their own homelessness.
