She knew she needed to find a place, and quickly. Having slept on friends' sofas for the last few months and with a baby quickly approaching, she knew she needed something permanent. Her Family Advocate at Grace's Table spent hours helping her call other service providers in Grand Rapids. "So sorry, we're full," was the response over and over and over again.

This is the reality in our city. There's simply no room.

But this isn't the end of the story- you can help make a difference. In today's blog, you'll find important statistics on Homelessness, specifically how it impacts youth and the teen mamas we serve at Grace's Table. Then, we have ways for you to apply what you've learned to help teen mamas facing homelessness in Grand Rapids.

Youth Homelessness

Many people have a specific image that comes to mind when they think of homelessness. Generally, it's of an adult sleeping on the sidewalk, at a bus station, etc. While this is a real situation many people face, the true nature of homelessness is much more varied.

According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), in 2018, approximately 30 percent of people experiencing homelessness in the United States were younger than age 24 (hudexchange.info). In Kent County, 300+ youth (18-24) are currently experiencing homelessness (Grand Rapids Area Coalition to End Homelessness).

What causes homelessness?

Many factors can contribute to someone experiencing homelessness. Some common factors include serious mental illness, chronic health conditions, or substance use disorders. These issues can lead to unemployment, making it difficult to maintain stable housing (SAMHSA). Other factors, like education, income, and race, can also make a person more likely to experience homelessness. For example, in 2020 in Kent County, 60% of individuals experiencing homelessness were Black or African American, which is hugely disproportionate compared to the general population of 18%.

What does homelessness look like?

It may surprise you, but not everyone experiences homelessness the same way. Sometimes a person may be staying in a shelter, other times, they might be couch surfing (staying with different friends or family for an extended period of time), and still, others may have no shelter at all.

Here's an example of how this plays out in our community. During 2022 in Kent County, 1044 individuals experienced homelessness in a single night. 77% were in an emergency shelter, 17% were in transitional housing, and 5% were unsheltered (2022 point-in-time Count Report).

Teen Mamas and Homelessness

At Grace's Table, 80% of the teen mamas we serve have experienced homelessness over the past two years. And this isn't out of the ordinary. According to the Voices of Youth Count, 44% of homeless female youth between 18 and 25 reports being a parent or pregnant.

For teen mamas under 18, it can be even more difficult to find assistance in the search for safe and stable housing.

"For instance, homeless shelters, battered women’s shelters and transitional living programs may not always accept teenagers who are under the age of 17, nor do these programs generally accept young children. Further, placement in foster care does not always ensure that the mother and child will remain together—the placement of both the teenage mother and her child together is contingent on the availability of a trained foster care provider or group home that is willing to take both the teen and her child. Young mothers who are homeless come up against many of the same hurdles as young mothers in foster care, including poverty, barriers to education and other supports." (HUD)

Across the United States, homeless parenting youth have extremely limited options.

Teen mamas also have the added stress of caring for their children while navigating the challenges of homelessness.

"The trauma of homelessness, even short term, can have a major effect on a youth’s future development. Children who experience homelessness have significantly higher rates of emotional, behavioral, and immediate and long-term health problems. They often struggle with self-esteem, which puts them at risk for substance use, suicide, and other negative outcomes. They have numerous academic difficulties, including below-grade level reading, high rate of learning disabilities, poor school attendance, and failure to advance to the next grade or graduate. Four out of five children who are experiencing homelessness have been exposed to at least one serious violent event by age 12." (Homelessness Resources: Youth | SAMHSA)

While all this data may feel bleak, the good news is that organizations like Grace's Table are already making an impact.

The programming at Grace's Table equips teen mamas with the skills and resources they need to navigate and even avoid challenges like homelessness. This is what you might call "preventative care," and it's extremely important in the fight to end homelessness for teen mamas. We are often the "first line of defense" to help navigate crises.

Additionally, our new Residential Program will help meet the immediate needs of teen mamas and their families while helping reverse the trauma and negative effects of homelessness.

How You Can Help

Learn

The first step in getting involved in any cause is to understand the problem. The more you learn and understand, the better you can help. By reading our blogs and visiting the linked resources, you are already well on your way to better understanding how housing insecurity affects teen mamas and their families.

Invest

Whether it's your time or your money, your presence can make a huge difference. You know what they say; actions speak louder than words. Donate to Empower and Equip teen mamas today!

Share

Never underestimate the power of community! The more you share your passion and reason for involvement, the more people will want to join you in the cause. As a champion of teen mamas, you are the best person to share the cause with the rest of the world. Don't wait for someone else to do it; make it your own!