Perspectives on Service Use, Non-Service Use, and Potential Solutions from Youth Experiencing Homelessness

Though services promoting general success among youth experiencing homelessness (YEH) are available, one-half of young people never use them. Thus, there is a need to learn more about how to engage young people to utilize services. Using culturally relevant information from four focus groups with YEH in 2024, young people’s responses reveal the need for behavioral health programs which youth deemed “revolutionary.” Many youths do not want to ask for help as they value their independence and want to “make it on their own.” Creative solutions to encourage service utilization included sharing success stories of young people with lived experiences as well as advertising services, their positive benefit, and free accessibility. Because youth who use services are more likely to exit the streets, knowing how best to engage young people with services is vital to their health and wellbeing.