Youth Homelessness in Denver, Colorado: 2017-2021

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Social Epidemiology
• Demography

Background:

• Homelessness among children and youth is a critical public health issue in the U.S.
• Accurate prevalence data for youth experiencing homelessness is lacking.
• Understanding the scope is vital for effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the prevalence of youth experiencing homelessness in Denver, Colorado, from 2017 to 2021.
• To utilize multiple systems estimation (MSE) for a more comprehensive count.
• To stratify estimates by race, ethnicity, and gender.

Main Methods:

• A multiple systems estimation (capture-recapture) analysis was conducted for youth aged 14-17 in Denver.
• Three citywide datasets were linked: Homeless Management Information System, Denver Public Schools McKinney-Vento data, and Colorado's TRAILS.
• Log-linear models were used to estimate the total homeless youth population, with 95% confidence intervals calculated.

Main Results:

• The estimated total number of homeless youth in Denver increased from 2,880 in 2017 to 7,084 in 2021.
• The prevalence of youth homelessness rose from 10.4% in 2017 to 25.1% in 2021.
• Black/African American and Hispanic youth comprised a significant majority (74.9%-83.1%) of the homeless youth population.

Conclusions:

• The prevalence of youth homelessness in Denver has substantially increased and is likely underestimated by traditional methods.
• Multiple systems estimation provides a more robust methodology for assessing homelessness prevalence.
• Findings underscore the urgent need for enhanced resource allocation and service delivery for vulnerable youth populations.