Needs We Address
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. Few have positive adult role models to help youth navigate obstacles or provide them with a safety net. 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 2022-2023 school year, 5143 school-age youth in Wake County were identified as homeless, almost double the number of youth 9 years ago. In January of 2022, the Wake County Continuum of Care Point-in-Time data showed that 11% of persons experiencing homelessness in Wake County were youth 18-24. The PIT also showed a 68% increase since last year and a 99.5% increase since 2020. (ABC11.com, 7/28/22) (Wake County CoC PIT, 2022)
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 at fair market rent is $27.15, up 15% from 2022. About 3.7 full-time jobs at minimum wage would need to be obtained to afford it. (Out of Reach 2023, NC)
Children Living in Poverty
Families can easily end up in poverty when things like mortgage, rent, food, and emergency funds hold a lot of weight. Every one in four children in Wake county are living in poverty. In 2021, there were an estimated 26,641 people ages 0-17 living in poverty in Wake County NC. (FRED Economic Data, 2021)
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%. LGBTQ youth and youth who have been in foster care experience trafficking at higher rates than other youth experiencing homelessness. 68% of youth who had been trafficked had done so while being homeless. (National Network for Youth, nn4youth.org).
Youth of Color Overrepresented in Juvenile Justice System
Due to historical and structural racism, Black youth are more likely to become involved in the juvenile justice system compared to white youth. While Black youth make up 23 percent of all youth in the general population in NC, they represented 56 percent of all juvenile complaints and they also represented 67 percent of youth in short-term and long-term confinement. (Durham County News, 6/22/2022 using data from SCSJ)
Youth Suicide on the Rise in NC
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 2021, 22% of North Carolina high school students seriously considered committing suicide in the 12 months prior. 18% made a plan to attempt suicide, and 10% attempted suicide. (2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey)
Bullying 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. 14% of high school students were bullied at school, and 28% were electronically bullied. Nearly one-quarter of LGBTQ+ students were bullied at school and nearly 30% were electronically bullies. (2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey)
Youth Mental Health Worsening
In a comparison between students who were physically active and if they felt sad or hopeless, 43% of high school students felt sad or hopeless and some were not doing at least 60 minutes of physical activity over a 5-day span. 35% of middle school students felt sad or hopeless, but 44% were engaged in some physical activity. (2022 Youth Risk Behavior Survey)