Unseen and Unstable
The Homelessness Struggle of Foster Youth in California
Volunteering at the HUB in Orange Jan. 18, 2025
Photo by Dylan Han
As of 2024, an estimated 187,000+ people in California experience homelessness; in other words, 0.48% of the total population— one of the highest per capita rates in the US. What's more, California’s homeless population is disproportionately represented by various minorities, including black and hispanic men and women, with a particular subset gaining attention within recent years alongside the development of the American child welfare system—foster youth.
Statistics show that within California alone, 25-31% of transition-aged foster youth (TAF), or foster youth between the ages of 18-21, experience homelessness, particularly after being emancipated from the foster care system, or aging out. A clear disproportion can be seen when comparing to the general young-adult population, approximately 10% of which face homelessness. There is, however, no nationally agreed-upon figure for the rates of housing insecurity among foster youth due to the varying definitions of homelessness across states and even counties. Using definitions that encompass “couch surfing” as a common alternative to shelters, however, will often result in much higher estimates of youth homelessness.
In Orange county in particular, around 4% of the nearly 7,000 people experiencing homelessness are TAF—a disproportionate figure when considering the fact that current and previous foster youth make up less than 0.5% of the total population in Orange County, with current foster
youth sitting a little above 0.1%. Studies have shown that risk factors for homelessness—including having a history of childhood physical and/or sexual abuse, mental health disorders, drug usage, involvement in the juvenile justice system, lack of permanent connections to an adult, and lower educational levels—are particularly prevalent in foster youth. This can be seen in the 50% high school graduation rate for foster youth compared to the 87% national average, the mere 3% who have a college diploma in comparison to the 67% nationally, and the overall higher rates of juvenile delinquency and mental health issues, particularly PTSD, among foster children both before and during placement.
Clothing the Homeless Volunteering in Costa Mesa March 8, 2024
Photo by Brady Lee
Within the past few years, there have been efforts by the local government to address the homelessness issue in OC with particular consideration given to high-risk groups such as TAF. As of 2022, the Orange County Continuum of Care, which independently oversees the distribution of county funding for homeless programs, funds a shelter specially designated for TAF with 25 beds in collaboration with the Orangewood Foundation, although the waiting list for beds is said to be up to nine months long. Currently, much of the local efforts to combat homelessness for foster and at-risk youth are supported by collaborative NGOs and local non-profit organizations by targeting risk factors such as education and mental health. Orangewood foundation, based in Santa Ana, provides housing and mentorship programs that help foster youth who have aged out of the system with no support gain needed life skills and employment opportunities, in addition to educational resources and scholarships. Scholarship Prep, a public charter school in Santa Ana, provides essential resources including food provisions, trauma-trained teachers, counseling, and educational supplies for foster and homeless youth. There are also various grassroots student-led initiatives that aim to support local foster youth, including the FOSTERing positivity initiative at Sage Hill School, and the Orphan Assistance Fund, which has 20+ chapters across Orange County.