Youth Homelessness

HUD Definitions Related to Homeless Youth

• Individual with a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings, including a car, park, abandoned building, bus or train station, airport, or camping ground
• Unaccompanied youth and homeless youth are defined as “homeless” under other Federal statutes, if these youth have experienced a long term period without living independently in permanent housing; and have experienced persistent instability as measured by frequent moves over such period; and can be expected to continue in such status for an extended period of time because of chronic disabilities, chronic physical health or mental health conditions, substance addiction, histories of domestic violence or childhood abuse, the presence of a child or youth with a disability or multiple barriers to employment.

For more information about the Definitions of Homeless for Federal Programs Serving Children, Youth and Families, click here.