Youth Homelessness on the Rise in Texas
A new report by Texas Appleseed and the Texas Network of Youth Services finds that a disjointed system of funding and programs is exacerbating the issue of youth homelessness in Texas. Young, Alone, and Homeless in the Lone Star State: Policy Solutions to End Homelessness in Texas includes data analysis and interviews with nearly 200 young people, service providers and law enforcement officials. The report finds that homelessness in Texas public schools is on the rise, with a 12 percent increase in student homelessness from the 2013-2014 school year to the 2014-2015 school year. The authors argue that Texas should establish a unified, statewide task force to better coordinate the various agencies and programs that address youth homelessness.