What’s harder than being a homeless teenager? Being without a parent or guardian, too.

 Homelessness has not escaped some of the county’s younger population, as North Thurston Public Schools (NTPS) have identified 54 minors as unaccompanied youth for the school year 2021-2022.

Unaccompanied youth are minors who find themselves homeless and without a guardian. Some of the reasons which lead to homelessness include severe family conflict, parental abuse or neglect, parental mental health issues or substance abuse, deceased parents, or those forced to leave their homes after admitting pregnancy or identifying as members of the LGBTQ+.

Across the U.S. around 70,000 minors are considered unaccompanied youth. Statewide, an estimated 13,000-15,000 minors are tagged as unhoused and living without a guardian. Locally, NTPS has listed 54 students between 9th-12th grades as unaccompanied for the school year 2021-2022.

Last school year, NTPS listed 118 unaccompanied youth within its school district. In a presentation to the Lacey City Council on Thu., Dec. 9, TOGETHER! Host Homes Program Development Director Gabriela Hyre told council members that housing and services contribute to students' success rate in completing their high school education.

To resolve the issue, TOGETHER!, a Tumwater-based non-profit organization that aims to advance the health and well-being of young people, announced plans to begin its Host Homes Pilot program in Lacey.

The Host Home program matches youth with community partners. These partners can be people that the youth already know or had a relationship with such as their coach, teachers and other concerned community members.

 Hyre explained that the program is not meant to provide parenting. Rather, Hyre shared that their goal is to guide and provide the necessary tools students will need once they leave the program.

In addition to housing, the Host Homes program would also provide transportation services and financial assistance to qualified students. TOGETHER! has submitted a written request to the city council asking for $100,000 to help fund its pilot program.

In response, the city council plans to discuss the funding request by next year. “If we can prevent these kids from being homeless, help these kids graduate from high school and remain housed after that, that’s huge. I mean, that’s fixing the problem before it becomes a problem,” Councilmember Lenny Greenstein said.