Think about what image comes to mind when someone says "a homeless person" then think again, when that homeless person is between the ages of 18 to 24 years. What were you doing between those ages? Planning your future, planning to go to college, planning a wedding, planning a family? How does a young person become homeless? Where are the parents, the schools, extended families, or social service agencies? An estimated 200,000 California youth experience homelessness each year. Many homeless youth experience unthinkable situations while living on the streets. Most clients that come to us have mental health issues, drug/alcohol addiction, mistrustful of adults and a sense of hopelessness. Many have histories of abuse, neglect, domestic violence, and parental substance abuse. Others were removed from their home because their parents could not care for them. Many of these homeless youth have "aged out" of the child welfare system or juvenile probation system. "Emancipation" or "aging-out" describes foster youth who are discharged from the foster care system upon reaching the majority age of 18, relieving the state of the care, custody, and responsibility of the young adult. In the groundbreaking report ""Unsheltered, A Report on Homelessness in South Los Angeles" by Special Services for Groups:

A history of foster care increases the likelihood that a person will become homeless at a younger age and be homeless for a greater length of time (Roman & Wolfe, 1995). Each year, approximately 1,800 foster youth age out of the LA County child welfare system (Tousignant, 2005). Studies suggest that foster care placements strongly predict homelessness, though they cannot be considered causes of homelessness (Piliavin et al., 1993; Tousignant, 2005). Some youth face residential instability stemming from residential or institutional placement. Homeless youth who have emancipated out of foster care often transition directly into homelessness (NASW, 1992).

Pathways to Success Emergency and Transitional Housing Program provides housing and supportive housing services to over 100 homeless youth per year. We provide the necessary services to assist our clients in preparing to find permanent housing through our program "Planning the Path to Permanent Housing ". But we cannot do this work alone.

Help Us Continue to Make a Difference to Someone in Need

• $25 Helps provide food to someone in our residential program
• $50 Subsidizes our Supportive Services Housing Program
• $100 Helps fund daily living assistance and essential support from our dedicated counselors