The Local Facts on Homelessness and Youth

HOW DO FAMILIES AND YOUTH BECOME HOMELESS?

Three trends are responsible for youth homelessness:

Poverty:Buffalo maintains the distinction as the third poorest city in the nation. The rate of poverty among residents is 29.9% and 46% of Buffalo’s children live in poverty. (2010 Census)

Shortages in Affordable Housing:Fifty-eight percent of Buffalo renters (where the average rent is $646/month) and 52% of Erie County renters pay more than 30% of their income on rent. The U.S. Census Bureau and several lending institutions consider those who spend more than 30% of their income on rent to be burdened.

Lack of Jobs that Pay a Living Wage:While 59% of people who live in poverty are employed, the lack of jobs in Buffalo and Erie County that pay a living wage leaves many families on the brink of homelessness.

HOW MANY HOMELESS YOUTH ARE THERE?

A MOVING TARGET…

On any given night in Buffalo and Erie County,1,000 men, women and children can be found on the streets, in emergency shelters or in transitional or supportive housing.

An estimated 5,050 men, women and children find themselves homeless in WNY each year. (Homeless Alliance of WNY Annual Report 2011)

Youth advocates,homeless youth providers, outreach workers and school counselors provide statistics on the homeless youth they come in contact with each year. They estimate approximately 1,500 youth become homelessannually,but homeless youth are difficult to count.

Many never seek support or services until they fall into the correctional system or become ill.

Erie County Public Schools reported 860 homeless youth registered as homeless in grades pre K-Grade 12 in 2010: 602 in The Buffalo Public Schools and 258 in Suburban Schools – these are just youth who reported being homeless. Many others hide.

Approximately 766 youth ages 0-17 and 487 ages 18-24 were served in emergency shelters, transitional shelters or provided supportive housing in 2011. The number of homelessness peaked for children under the age of 5 (239 total), teens ages 15-19 (225 total) and young adults ages 20-24 (261 total). (Homeless Alliance HMIS Report 2011)

Services/Need for Homeless Youth

There are five shelter and service providers that work to meet the needs of

homeless youth and families in our area, including:

Program
Name / Program
Location / Youth
Served in 2011
COMPASS HOUSE EMERGENCY SHELTER
(Youth Ages 12-17) / 370 Linwood Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14209 / 300
COMPASS HOUSE RESOURCE CENTER
(Youth Ages 14-24) / 1451 Main Street
Buffalo, NY 14209 / 200
FRANCISCAN CENTER
(Transitional Housing for Males Ages 16-20) / 1910 Seneca Street
Buffalo, NY 14210 / 30
GERARD PLACE
(Parenting Youth Ages 18+) / 2515 Bailey Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14215 / 43 Parents
30 Children (0-14)
PLYMOUTH CROSSROADS
(Young Men Ages 16-20) / 5522 Broadway Street
Lancaster, NY 14086 / 32
TEACHING AND RESTORING YOUTH (TRY)
(Young Women Ages 16-21) / 228 Brinkman Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14211 / 21
Total Youth Served in 2011 / 709

Gaps in Service for Homeless Youth

There are NO Shelters for Homeless Youth ages 21-24 in Erie County (261 youth)

There is only limited shelter for pregnant and parenting teens not in Erie County custody (there were 210 parenting or pregnant teens registered in the Buffalo Public Schools in 2011-2012)

There are currently no shelters for families with children who become homeless (there were 30+ known cases of need no placement in 2012)

70% Cut in Funding to ALL New York State Youth Serving Agencies over the past 4 Years.

Funding is needed urgently to meet these needs – help protect and serve homeless youth and their families in our community!

** PLEASE EDUCATE YOUR ALLIES AND ELECTED OFFICIALS TODAY **