Youth Homelessness

There is significant focus statewide and nationally on homelessness among single adults and families yet we hear very little about the "invisible" population - the runaway homeless children and homeless youth of CT. According to Attorney Stacy Violante Cote of Center for Children's Advocacy, these particular victims to homelessness "are youth in the care of DCF, youth who have been physically and sexually abused, gay-lesbian-bisexual-transgender youth who have been kicked out of their homes after 'coming out', adolescent boys who are not allowed in family shelters, and youth who are victims of commercial sexual exploitation." Many of these children are present in our schools, sleep on a friend's couch, sleep in a shelter, or survive the night in a car or under the bridge.

Data shows that runaway and homeless are prevalent and numerous in Connecticut. The FBI's National Crime Information Center reported that as of October 2008, there were 236 active runaway cases and 4,300 purged records for runaway cases in CT. The National Runaway and Homeless Youth Management and Information System reported a total of 209 runaway and homeless youth in Connecticut for 2007.

In our state, The CT Team is comprised of professionals and providers who meet monthly to bring visibility and statewide awareness and advocate for policy changes to improve services for this vulnerable population. The Team is comprised of state agencies such as DCF, Court Support Services Division, Dept of Education, as well as private providers throughout the state. The CT Team is currently focused on conducting a research study to collect data and information on homeless youth; the data we currently have from multiple sources is minimal and does not provide the true disparity of CT youth.

There is a lack of multisystem coordination, awareness and few services for this population. The CT Team continues to support House Bill No. 5915, "An Act Concerning 'Stuck Kids' introduced by Representative Gail Hamm. As stated in Attorney Cote's testimony, "This bill will improve CT's ability to provide supports and services to as well much needed attention to the needs of runaway and homeless youth in our state. The bill seeks to require DCF to review and monitor the placement of every out-of -state, runaway and homeless child and youth in DCF custody, care, or supervision and to issue an annual report to the General Assembly."

For more information please contact Stacy Violante Cote, Esq., MSW, Chair of the CT Team, at (860) 570-5327 or sviolant@kidscounsel.org. 211 Infoline also has information available. To follow bill 5915, visit www.cga.ct.gov. CCEH contact on Youth Homelessness: Naomi Gallagher, Project Manager, (860) 721-7876 ext 109.