When most people think of homelessness, they think of someone sleeping outside, in a tent, or in a shelter. But for most young people experiencing homelessness, the reality looks very different. In fact, the large majority of youth without stable housing are not visible on the street at all. They are going from friend’s house to friend’s house, living in motels, or staying temporarily in unsafe or unstable places.
The large majority of youth without stable housing are not visible on the street at all.
Understanding Hidden Homelessness
According to the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, many young people who are homeless live in what’s called “hidden homelessness.” This includes “couch-surfing,” “doubling up” with others, or staying in motels, cars, or other temporary settings. Because these situations don’t fit the public image of homelessness, they often go unnoticed and uncounted.
DESE data from the 2022-2023 school years reports there were 1,790 unaccompanied homeless students in the state of Massachusetts. To bring this closer to Essex County, Lynn Public Schools reported 723 unaccompanied homeless youth in the 2022-23 school year, which makes up about 40% of the state’s total identified youth.
In the 2021–2022 school year, more than 75% of unhoused students in the U.S. were in doubled-up or temporary housing, not in shelters or on the street. These youth are rarely seen in public spaces. Nonetheless, they experience instability, fear, and the daily challenges that come with not having a safe, consistent place to live.
Why Many Young People Stay Off the Streets
There are many reasons young people avoid the streets or formal shelters. Shelters may feel unsafe or include adult populations that intimidate youth. Shame or fear of stigma can also play a role. Many young people don’t want others to know they are unhoused and may say they are “staying with friends” instead. Some have had negative experiences with child welfare or justice systems and fear violence, harassment, discrimination, and being reported or separated from peers. Others may simply be unaware of local programs and services available to help them.
For these reasons, youth often move quietly from place to place, remaining largely invisible to the systems designed to support them.
The Consequences of Invisible Homelessness
Hidden homelessness does not mean less hardship by any means. Insecure housing puts youth at higher risk of dropping out of school, unemployment, poor mental health, substance use, and exploitation. Constantly moving or not knowing where they’ll sleep next can make it nearly impossible for these youth to maintain stability, attend school consistently, or focus on long-term goals.
This element of invisibility in the issue of unhoused youth also creates challenges for communities. When young people go unseen or uncounted, it becomes much more difficult to allocate resources and funding to address their needs.
Support in November and Beyond
November is National Youth Homelessness Awareness Month, a time for raising awareness about the adversity faced by homeless youth across the United States.
While most young people experiencing homelessness are not visible, they exist in every community, including towns and cities across Essex County. By expanding our understanding of what homelessness looks like, we can make sure no young person goes unseen or unsupported.
This month, and all year long, Essex County Outreach stands with youth and families experiencing housing instability. Together, we can help bring awareness to hidden homelessness and build pathways to stability.