Homelessness

Homelessness in general increased modestly in the United States in 2019, the second increase in two years. On a single night in 2019, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), 552,830 people were found to be experiencing homelessness in the United States.

• Over 550K People are Homeless

• Half of those are unsheltered

• Youth lacking a high school diploma or GED had over a 300% higher risk of homelessness .

• Youth in households making less than $24,000 a year had a 150 % higher risk of homelessness.

Gangs

A recent survey of America's largest city police departments showed that ninety-five percent reported significant criminal activity by youth gangs or gang-like groups of young people. 

• There are  1,500 youth gangs with more than 120,000 members in the US

• The average age of the arrested gang offender is seventeen or eighteen

• 16% of youth gang members were younger than 15; 34% were between the ages of 15 and 17

Drugs/Alcohol

Social issues, bullying, added responsibilities at home  many times push young people into drug and alcohol use to cope. 

• About 21% of high school students admit drug use and 41% report drinking alcohol.

• About 25% of middle schoolers have tried alcohol at some point in their life, and 18% of eighth-graders report having tried an illicit drug during their lifetime. 

• 78% of U.S. teens had drank alcohol

• 81% of teens had the opportunity to use illicit substances, with 42% actually using them.

Mental Health

Environmental causes of mental illness in adolescents are typically, at their core, a result of stress. Common sources of stress in adolescence are social stress, isolation, or substance abuse.

• 50% of all lifetime mental illnesses develop by age 14

• 1 in 5 young people suffer from a mental illness

• 18.1% of the population every year. Anxiety disorders are highly treatable, yet only 36.9% of those suffering receive treatment.