Huffington Post: “Let’s Study What Works Best for Homeless Youth”

As part of its laudable goal to end family, youth, and child homelessness by 2020, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has issued nationalinstructions in its funding announcements, prioritizing investments in rapid re-housing, putting homeless people in apartments first, and then working to address their need for social services.

There is evidence the model works well for adults, who, for the most part, have had at least some experience living independently, working, paying bills, budgeting and developing a social network. Thanks to the President’s leadership and Congress’ support, HUD has sparked once-unthinkable progress in the virtual elimination of veterans’ homelessness over the past six years in many cities, and seen dramatic downturns in the number of chronically homeless people across the country. Rapid re-housing has been a significant component of this progress, and the model should also work well for unaccompanied, homeless, young people who have developed such skills.

Read more on the Huffington Post.