Needs We Address

Every youth comes to Haven House with their own unique story. Their journeys may be different, but along the way the youth we serve have encountered many of the same challenges.

Some are homeless.  Others are in-crisis due to difficult family situations, problems at school, and/or mistakes they have made.  Many have a history of trauma, abuse, or neglect. But no matter the path that leads youth to us, at Haven House we will do whatever it takes to help each youth identify their goals, overcome challenges, and build the skills and get the resources needed to be safe, supported, and successful.

Below are a few local, state, and national statistics that illustrate some of the physical, social, emotional, and socio-economic issues that the youth we serve are facing:

Youth Homelessness Increasing Locally

In the 2023-2024 school year, 5643 school-age youth in Wake County were identified as homeless, up 10% from the prior school year and more than double the number of youth nine years ago. (WCPSS student data)

Housing Costs Continue to Skyrocket

The cost of housing (including rentals) in Wake County continues to skyrocket. The current hourly wage required to afford a 2-bedroom apartment at fair market rent is now $31.65 ($65,840/year), up 16.5% from 2023. About 4.2 full-time jobs at minimum wage would need to be obtained to afford it. (Out of Reach 2024, NC)
The median income of a household headed by someone under 25 in Raleigh is only $46,046. (Neilsberg Research, 8/9/24)

Children Living in Poverty

Families can easily end up in poverty when the cost of things like mortgage payments, rent, food, and transportation are high. In 2023, there were an estimated 21,801 youth ages 0-17 living in poverty in Wake County NC. (FRED Economic Data, 2023)

Homeless Youth at Higher Risk of Human Trafficking

Research from numerous studies have found trafficking rates among youth and young adults experiencing homelessness ranging from 19% to 40%.
Youth who have been in foster care experience trafficking at higher rates than other youth experiencing homelessness.
68% of youth who had been trafficked or engaged in survival/commercial sex had done so while being homeless. (National Network for Youth, nn4youth.org).

Youth in Juvenile Justice System

We support youth at-risk for or that are already involved in the juvenile justice system through a comprehensive continuum of services.

Youth Suicide

Suicide is the second cause of death in youth ages 10-18, and the third cause of death in those ages 19-34. (NCDHHS, 2023)
In 2023, 20% of North Carolina high school students seriously considered committing suicide in the 12 months prior.
16% made a plan to attempt suicide, and 9% attempted suicide. (2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey)

Safety at School

Bullying effects all youth, ones who are bullied, and the ones who are bullying, and the effects of bullying can carry into adulthood.
19% of high school students were bullied at school.

13% of youth didn't go to school because of safety concerns, up from 9% in 2021. (2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey)

Youth Mental Health Worsening

29% of youth surveyed experienced ``poor mental health`` in the last 30 days. 4 in 10 stated that they felt ``persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.``

Despite sleep and exercise being preventative factors for mental heath challenges, only 25% of youth were active for at least 60 minutes daily, and only 35% got at least 8 hours of sleep each night. (2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey)