Hosted by the National Reentry Resource Center and the Coalition for Juvenile Justice, with funding support from the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance and Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
Youth and young adults (18–24-year-olds) in contact with the juvenile and adult criminal justice systems experience numerous barriers to securing stable, safe, and affordable housing. Many are disengaged from their families or have histories of abuse and other traumas, putting them at a greater risk of homelessness. Youth and young adults involved in the justice system often have mental health and substance use issues, which can present further challenges to securing housing. A criminal record can also limit youth and young adults’ housing options, as most housing applications ask about criminal history, and many landlords and subsidized housing providers have discretion to reject anyone with a criminal record.
Estimates suggest that up to two-thirds of youth and young adults who are involved in the juvenile justice system are also involved in the child welfare system. In most states, young adults age out of foster care between the ages of 18 and 21, meaning that they potentially exit the child welfare and juvenile justice systems at the same time. This concurrence often leaves youth and young adults to face the transition to independence on their own, making it that much more difficult to find stable housing. Further, youth and young adults experiencing homelessness may be at greater risk of continued contact with the justice system.
In this webinar, participants will learn:
- Current data and trends on youth and young adult homelessness;
- How homelessness intersects with the juvenile and adult criminal justice systems; and
- Lessons learned and promising strategies to connect youth and young adults in contact with the justice system to safe, stable, and affordable housing.
Panelists:
- Jasmine Hayes, Deputy Director, U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness
- Beth Holger-Ambrose, Executive Director, The Link
- Naomi Smoot, Senior Policy Associate, Coalition for Juvenile Justice
Moderator:
- Emily Morgan, Senior Policy Analyst, The Council of State Governments Justice Center