Pregnancy and parenting are common among young people facing homelessness, more so than among their stably housed peers. Homelessness is extremely traumatic for young families, often leading to serious and lifelong effects for the child and the parent.
Pregnant and Parenting Youth Face a Higher Risk of Homelessness
15%
Among current and former foster youth in California who are young parents, 15% are homeless
44%
of young women, ages 18-25, who face homelessness, report being a parent or pregnant
18%
For young men, ages 18-25, who face homelessness, 18% report being a parent
Parenting Youth Need More Than Just a Safe Place to Sleep
“Young children are particularly vulnerable as the first five years of a child’s life are critical for brain development.”
Homelessness is extremely traumatic for young families, often leading to serious and lifelong effects for the child and the parent. Young children are particularly vulnerable as the first five years of a child’s life are critical for brain development.
Early experiences of homelessness place parents and children at a higher risk for a range of challenges, including pregnancy-related deaths, chronic illness, and developmental delays.
- About 44% of young women and 18% of young men, ages 18-25, who face homelessness report being a parent or being pregnant.
- Pregnancy and parenting are common among young people facing homelessness, more so than among their stably housed peers.
- Young families experiencing homelessness find there are few options for safe shelter and services for them.
We Are Committed to Helping Young Families Transform Their Lives
When we welcome a young parent into one of our houses, we provide a host of wraparound services that respond to their immediate needs and support them while they work on acquiring skills and knowledge that will allow them to build a stable life for themselves and their children.
Building Trust and Community with Young Parents at CHC Santa Clara
For Najma Sadiq, a Residential Manager at Covenant House California Santa Clara, the most rewarding part of her work is earning the trust of the young people she serves – especially the young parents.
One moment stands out… when a young mother let Najma hold her baby for the first time. “As I was holding him, I was like, “she trusts us. Because this is her child.’”
For Najma, trust is everything. It is one of the most fulfilling parts of this work to be youth’s go-to person and safe space. “When those trust gates do open, it’s magical,“ she shared. “Just being able to be that go-to person for them – when their parents aren’t there for them or their siblings, or their friends… to be that go-to that’s just like ‘hey, I need to vent, I need to cuss, I need to cry,’ and knowing that I’m here for them in that capacity – is what keeps me going.”
For now, Najma is looking forward to one more milestone – when the newest newborn at the Cov starts talking and she can officially be “Auntie Naj”.
Help Provide Housing and Care for Young Families
Your gift today can provide direct care, housing, and wellness to young families overcoming homelessness.
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Who Is at Risk of Youth Homelessness?
Many factors increase a young person’s chances of experiencing homelessness, but some of our most vulnerable populations face the greatest risk.
Young people of color
Young people who are Black, Hispanic, and Indigenous experience homelessness at higher rates, largely due to systemic and structural racism.
LGBTQ+ youth
LGBTQ+ youth experience a much higher risk of homelessness than their peers.
Pregnant and Parenting Youth
Pregnancy and parenting are common among young people facing homelessness, more so than among their stably housed peers.
