Youth Homelessness in Indiana: A Hidden but Hopeful Fight

Rising Youth Homelessness in Indiana

Indiana public schools have seen a significant rise in the number of homeless students over the past few years. From the 2020-21 school year to the 2023-24 school year, there has been an estimated 44% increase in the number of homeless students. This trend mirrors a national pattern, with youth homelessness rising by approximately 32% across the United States.

The data on this issue often comes from the Department of Education, which, under the McKinney-Vento Act of 1987, defines homeless children as those who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. Community leaders and advocates emphasize that breaking the cycle of chronic homelessness must begin with supporting youths who do not have a stable place to live. Without early intervention, the trauma of being homeless can leave lasting scars on individuals and create ripple effects throughout communities.

Victor Hutchinson, now 24, recalls his childhood spent bouncing between homeless shelters and staying with friends alongside his mother. He is currently a participant in Outreach Indiana, a local nonprofit dedicated to helping young Hoosiers aged 14 to 24 who are experiencing homelessness.

For many Hoosiers, youth homelessness is an invisible issue. It often goes unnoticed, undocumented, and underreported. Unlike adult homelessness, it can take different forms, such as sleeping on the street one night and on a friend’s couch the next. This kind of intermittent homelessness makes it harder for them to qualify for state assistance programs, which typically prioritize chronically homeless adults.

The Scope of Homelessness in Indiana

According to the IndyStar, there were an estimated 22,114 homeless students (Pre K-12) in Indiana during the 2023-24 school year. This represents a 44% increase from the five-year low of 15,373 in the 2020-21 school year. In the 2022-23 school year, 28% of Indiana's homeless students lived in Marion County, according to SchoolHouse Connection and Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan.

Causes of Youth Homelessness

Youth homelessness is driven by various factors, including family breakdowns, forced evictions, and cultural beliefs that view turning 18 as the end of parental responsibility. This often forces young adults out of their homes. Trinity Hopkins, a 24-year-old local author and current Outreach participant, shared her experience: “I always felt like I was on the journey by myself because we didn’t have adults around us who could give us proper guidance.”

Impact on Academic Performance

Homeless students consistently fall behind their housed peers in academic performance. For example, only 57% of homeless students were proficient in third-grade early literacy assessments, compared to 82% among housed students. Several factors contribute to this gap:

• Lack of quality sleep, essential for a child’s development and learning.
• Higher rates of serious health issues, such as asthma, which affects nearly twice as many homeless students.
• Food insecurity, with homeless students having reduced access to nutritious meals and being twice as likely to skip breakfast.

Effects of Summer Break on Homeless Kids

During the summer months, food insecurity becomes more severe for homeless students, as they rely on school for guaranteed meals like breakfast and lunch. Loss of safety and structure is also a major concern, as many homeless students are “doubled up,” sharing housing due to economic hardship. Constant movement makes it difficult to maintain stability. Additionally, homeless students often miss out on summer enrichment programs, especially when they move between school districts. College students face renewed homelessness as many campuses close dorms during the summer, leaving unhoused students without shelter.

Racial Disparities in Homelessness

Statewide data reveals troubling racial disparities in youth homelessness. According to SchoolHouse Connection and Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan, Black or African American students made up 31% of homeless students in Indiana (2022-23), despite representing only 11% of the overall student population. This overrepresentation reflects broader systemic inequities. African Americans are disproportionately affected across all categories of homelessness, highlighting the urgent need to address racial bias and structural barriers in housing, education, and social services.

Addressing Youth Homelessness

To combat this growing crisis, several steps can be taken:

• Allow minors to apply for health insurance independently, such as Medicaid, without requiring parental consent.
• Eliminate racial disparities in housing, including discriminatory evictions, loan denials, and high housing costs.
• Repeal laws that criminalize homelessness, shifting the focus from punishment to support.
• Intervene early in a young person’s housing crisis to prevent long-term or chronic homelessness in adulthood.

The Public Policy Institute at Indiana University emphasizes that to curb the rise in youth homelessness, the state must strengthen programming for unhoused youth. This includes allowing unaccompanied minors to access healthcare, addressing racial inequities in housing, and ending the criminalization of homelessness.

The Cost of Criminalizing Homelessness

Beyond the human cost, criminalizing homelessness is financially inefficient. A national study found that placing a homeless youth in the criminal justice system for one year costs $53,665, compared to just $5,887 to permanently move that same youth off the streets. Between 2021 and 2023, Indiana’s corrections spending nearly doubled, from $849 million to an estimated $1.7 billion.

Success Stories from Other Cities

Other cities have found success with more compassionate approaches. In 2015, Milwaukee County launched a Housing First Initiative, providing housing without preconditions. The results were dramatic: municipal violations dropped by 82%, and the homeless population fell from 1,521 to 900.

Outreach Indiana's Impact

Organizations like Outreach Indiana are already making a difference by offering essentials like fresh clothes, hot meals, showers, and a safe space for youth in need. Participants describe the organization as a "safe home" where they can find support and build futures. Outreach also helps youth access resources such as driving exams and job opportunities.

Victor Hutchinson, who recently started working at a moving company with Outreach’s support, encourages other young people facing homelessness: “It takes a lot of patience, so just endure. Endure all of it. Because you know, within time, something will come up. Something will get better.”

Resources for Homeless Youth

If you or someone you know is in need of help, here are some resources:

• Outreach Youth Hotline: (317) 699-1994
• Stopover 24-Hour Crisis Line: (317) 635-9301