Homeless Youth

Awareness Toolkit

We have developed a social media toolkit to help you advocate for #YouthHomelessness and #HomelessYouthAwareness in the month of November and beyond.

Below, we have shared links and instructions for how to share it. You can always pull your own content from our most recent Homeless Youth Needs Assessment.

If you have any questions about this toolkit, please contact layla.said@mdhi.org.

Youth homelessness is solvable.

Key messages

Homelessness is a reflection of systemic failures rather than personal shortcomings, by and large.
The moment demands we recognize what is at stake if we don’t solve youth homelessness.
The #1 contributing factor to youth homelessness is critical family issues.
1 in 3 homeless youth were in foster care. 1 in 4 were involved in the criminal justice system.
We must rely on the available data, including the personal accounts of those experiencing homelessness, to guide our policies and practices.
Youth aren’t choosing homelessness.
Homelessness is solvable. Our community is already proving it.

Share the Facts. Support Unhoused Youth.

State of Youth Homelessness

Week 1: Share our State of Youth Homelessness carousel graphic, highlighting the number of unaccompanied and parenting youth counted as experiencing homelessness in metro Denver across six data sources.

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Top 5 Contributing Factors

Week 2: While it’s difficult to identify a singular cause of someone’s homelessness, there are often many contributing factors. This carousel graphic explores the top 5 contributing factors of youth homelessness locally. Read the report for the full list.

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Racial Disparities

Week 3: This carousel graphic highlights the disparities for each racial group that is overrepresented in youth homelessness. These races make up a higher percentage of the homeless population than the general population.

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Needs of Unhoused Youth

Week 4: We asked young people with lived experience of homelessness and the providers who serve them, “What types of resources or services do you need to secure safe and stable housing?” Three themes emerged: (1) Better Housing, (2) Case Planning, and (3) Authentic Connections.

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Youth Quotes

Week 5: Hear directly from youth in metro Denver about their experiences, frustrations, and needs. No Needs Assessment would be complete without their input and expertise. You can find it highlighted throughout the report.

COPY & POST

Plug & Play

Social Media

Share any of our social media content as a set or one-off post to spread the facts about youth homelessness. Feel free to tag us at @MDHICoC along with #YouthHomelessness and #HomelessYouthAwareness.

Once in Canva, click “File” in the upper left corner, then “Make a copy.” Edit the file, download, and share!
Tag us @MDHICoC if you share Homeless Youth Awareness Month content! Here are some ideas:
- Film a video (30-60 seconds) of a team member sharing one thing that is at stake if we don’t solve youth homelessness and one proof of what’s possible in solving youth homelessness.
- Film a video (1-2 minutes) saying “November is Homeless Youth Awareness Month. What does that mean to [your organization]? It means…”
- Film a video (30-60 seconds) discussing what is your favorite part of serving unhoused youth.
Use this as your primary content or its caption. If you choose to develop your own messaging, please include the hashtags #HomelessYouthAwareness, #YouthHomelessness, or #HomelessnessIsSolvable. You can also tag @MDHICoC and your other partners!
- Homelessness is a reflection of systemic failures rather than personal shortcomings, by and large. 🏠#HomelessYouthAwareness #Youth Homelessness
- The moment demands we recognize what is at stake if we don’t solve youth homelessness. 🏠 #HomelessYouthAwareness #Youth Homelessness
- The #1 contributing factor to youth homelessness in metro Denver is Critical Family Issues. 70% of the region’s youth assessed for housing indicated “abuse or violence in my home” as the reason they lacked stable housing. #HomelessYouthAwareness #Youth Homelessness
- 1 in 3 homeless youth were in foster care. 1 in 4 were involved in the criminal justice system. 1 in 3 report insufficient family income. #HomelessnessIsNotAChoice #HomelessYouthAwareness #Youth Homelessness
- We must rely on the available data, including the personal accounts of those experiencing homelessness, to guide our policies and practices. Check out the Homeless Youth Needs Assessment to learn the facts.
- 92% of youth in our region’s HMIS database said they ‘aren’t choosing homelessness.’ 🏠 #HomelessnessIsNotAChoice #HomelessYouthAwareness #Youth Homelessness
- Homelessness is solvable. Our community is already proving it. Learn how at mdhi.org 🏠 🎉#HomelessIsSolvable #EndHomelessness