Housing and Supporting Unaccompanied Minors with Systemic Solutions
Innovative examples from the field show us that solutions for unaccompanied minors are flexible, cross-sector, multidisciplinary, and client-led
In addressing unaccompanied youth homelessness, implementing and testing a variety of housing models is how we obtain evidence-based housing solutions to scale across communities. The complexity of this issue demands strategies that not only offer immediate pathways to housing but also pave the way for upstream change.
Three innovative models have shown large-scale success: InREACH, the Youth Engagement Team (YET), and the Homelessness Prevention and Diversion Fund (HPDF). Each represents a practical approach to the multifaceted challenge of connecting minors to the support and housing they deserve. Host Homes can also be explored as an option, but our recent research suggests that energy and funds be invested into more flexible and sustainable options such as providing cash directly to unaccompanied young people (Direct Cash Transfers).
InREACH, Volunteers of America, Spokane, WA:
InREACH, established in Spokane by Volunteers of America (VOA) in 2019, embodies a proactive approach to reaching minors who are often overlooked by traditional homeless response systems. Of the young people served, 35% were Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), 11% were gender-expansive, 27% were Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and/or Queer, Questioning and other sexual orientations, 61% were couchsurfing or doubled up at entry, and 79% reported having disabilities. InREACH's success lies in its personalized outreach and direct connections with schools and systems of care.
A key individual responsible for the success of these relationships while at VOA, Isaac Fall, states “helping the students being referred is the biggest piece of generating relationships”. Relationships with schools weren’t built overnight. Because of the liability associated with serving minors, there was hesitation that gradually dissipated as more and more students were successfully housed. Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) were used in some districts to ensure mutual understanding. InREACH’s success was built by embedding itself within institutions and prioritizing the inclusion of young people on Spokane’s By-Name List. InREACH ensures that minors are not just seen but actively supported. They are continuing efforts to expand into more systems of care, especially the behavioral health system and the criminal legal system.
Young people have been exited from these systems into homelessness, and the goal moving forward is for these systems to work together and have the infrastructure in place for there to no longer be gaps for unhoused young people to fall through. The program's ability to adapt and respond to the nuanced needs of LGBTQIA2S+ and disabled young people further underscores its commitment to inclusivity and equity.
Youth Engagement Team (Y.E.T.) Model, various counties, WA:
The Youth Engagement Team (YET) model, originating in King County and now expanding across multiple regions, offers a comprehensive support system for minors. By integrating housing navigators, mental health professionals, and legal attorneys, YET addresses the multifaceted barriers minors face in accessing housing and resources. Elisha Pritchett, Data and Evaluation Director at A Way Home Washington and former Young Adult Service Navigator at Blue Mountain Action Council (BMAC) in Walla Walla, spoke highly of the model: “That really was a turning point because that team was not just sending a young person as a referral to the other person. They are working hand in hand interlocked with one another and young people are able to access legal resources at the same time they're accessing housing resources.” This unique collaboration has proven especially effective for young people under 18, specifically regarding the legal component, especially because most traditional housing requires tenants to be 18 to sign a lease.
The YET's success is not just in its structure but in its principles: housing first, youth-led, strength-based/trauma-informed care, and multi-disciplinary partnership. This holistic approach has resulted in significant achievements, including an 81% success rate in securing safe and stable housing for participants, according to a 2021 evaluation showcasing the power of targeted, coordinated support.
Homelessness Prevention and Diversion Fund (H.P.D.F.), various counties, WA:
The Homelessness Prevention and Diversion Fund (HPDF) was established by A Way Home Washington in 2020, inspired by a similar centralized flexible fund model created by Seattle-based non-profit Building Changes and Africatown. HPDF stands out for its ability to provide quick, flexible solutions to housing crises faced by minors. Recognizing the unique challenges and invisibility of unaccompanied minors experiencing homelessness, the HPDF fills a critical gap in housing supports. By offering low-barrier, adaptable resources for the first time to minors in WA, HPDF addresses the equity issue at the core of youth homelessness, particularly for those who are BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+, pregnant/parenting, or living with disabilities. In 2022-23, 12% of the 397 households housed by the HPDF were unaccompanied minors.
The HPDF's approach is a testament to the importance of designing interventions that offer client-led solutions. This allows the fund to meet the specific needs of the most impacted populations, for whom the traditional path within the homelessness system has proven insufficient or impossible. Through demographic-focused services and client-led data sharing, HPDF exemplifies how flexibility and listening to young people can lead to impactful results in preventing and diverting youth homelessness.
Host Homes, various communities nationally:
Particularly in rural areas where housing options are few and far between, Host Homes can be a useful model. Young people have reported this model as being “hit or miss”-- some ended up being formally adopted into a new family, whereas others found the new home environment traumatizing and no better than foster care, especially considering the absence of benefits such as the Extended Foster Care program. When discussing what could have been done better, it was recommended that having a third party such as a case manager could be helpful for accountability and communication within the household, paired with adequate training and resources for the host. Given the capacity required to minimize potential harm associated with this type of housing placement, young people we interviewed as part of the recent Unaccompanied Youth and Young Adult Homelessness Landscape Scan suggested that funds and energy might be more effectively used by exploring more innovative and sustainable options such as Direct Cash Transfers to young people, or flexible funds.
The challenge of youth homelessness requires pragmatic, actionable solutions that address both the immediate needs of young people and the structural issues that contribute to homelessness. Programs like InREACH, YET, HPDF, and Direct Cash Transfers (DCT) exemplify how targeted, client-led, multidisciplinary approaches can make a tangible difference in the lives of minors experiencing homelessness. As we look to the future, it is crucial to prioritize strategies that are rooted in evidence, inclusivity, and a deep understanding of the unique individual needs of minors experiencing homelessness. By focusing on practical solutions and sustainable system changes, we can make significant progress toward ending youth homelessness.
Leeze Castro