Alarming Facts

Did you know?

•  The vast majority of homeless youth surveyed were Black or African-American (71%), cisgender men (60.5%) between the ages of 20-25 (70.9%).
•  Approximately half (52.2%) of homeless youth surveyed in Atlanta were born in the State of Georgia.
• Nearly one-third (31.5%) of homeless youth interviewed reported being in school.
•  Overall, 28.2% of the homeless youth surveyed self-identified as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and/or Transgender (LGBT).
• The most common reasons youth found themselves homeless were financial problems (46.1%), job problems (32.3%), family violence/problems (28.2%), being kicked out of the home (24.2%), and housing problems (23.7%).
• Approximately 28% of Atlanta’s homeless youth surveyed reported symptoms indicating the possibility of having a serious mental illness.
• The majority of the homeless youth in the survey use alcohol (58%) and/or marijuana or hashish (64%), and nearly two-thirds (62.5%) of those who use have a high likelihood of having a substance use disorder.
• Only one-quarter (25.4%) of the homeless youth surveyed have a regular doctor or medical facility that they go to for health care, but more than half (59.8%) had gone to a hospital emergency room in the past year.
• The majority (88.5%) of homeless youth survey report having been tested for HIV infection.
• Nearly half (49.2%) of homeless youth surveyed indicated they had been sexually abused or been involved in paid sex activities either on their own or facilitated by someone.
• Homeless youth surveyed were most likely to turn to same age friends (65%), followed closely by adult friends (62%) when they want to talk to about important matters or seek help with a problem.
•  Two-thirds (66.7%) of homeless youth surveyed were “dreamers” who demonstrated remarkable resilience and hope for the future, including big careers and independent success.