PowerPoint from Alliance analyst Sam Batko on his typology of homeless youth.

1. National Population and
Subpopulation Estimates
of Homeless Youth
Samantha Batko,
Program and
Policy Analyst,
National Alliance
to End
Homelessness

2. Agenda
• Overall Population and Subpopulations of
Homeless Youth Under Age 18
• Overall Population and Subpopulations of
Homeless Young Adults Ages 18-24
• Homeless Young Family Estimates
• Total Number of Homeless Youth

3. NISMART 2 – Duration of Runaway Episode
Duration of Estimated Number Percent
Runaway Episode of Children
0 Hours to 24 Hours 328,400 19%
24 Hours to 1 Week 975,700 58%
1 Week to 1 Month 248,000 15%
More than 1 Month 130,900 8%
Total 1,683,000 100%

4. Homeless Youth Under 18
Category Percentage Number
Brief Runaways n/a 1.3 million
Low Risk 60% 228,000
Transient 22% 84,000
High Risk 18% 68,000

5. Homeless Youth Under 18
Category Percentage Number
Brief Runaway n/a 1.3 million
Temporarily Disconnected 86% 327,000
Unstably Connected 8% 29,000
Chronically Disconnected 6% 24,000
Total 100% 1,680,000

6. Homeless Young Adults Age 18-24
Category Percentage Number
Short-Term 81% 122,000
Episodic 9% 13,000
Chronic 10% 15,000
Total 100% 150,000
*This chart reflects the number of 18-24 year olds in the adult single system and does not reflect
the number of parenting youth in the family system.

7. Homeless Young Families
Category Percentage Number
36,000
Temporary 72-75%
-37,500
Long-Term
20% 10,000
Stayers
2,500-4,0
Episodic/Chronic 5-8% 00
Total 100% 50,000

8. Total Number of Homeless Youth

9. Contact
Samantha Batko
Program and Policy Analyst
National Alliance to End Homelessness
sbatko@naeh.org
202-942-8248