A new study has uncovered a startling reality in Denver: nearly 25% of the city’s youth experienced homelessness or housing insecurity in 2021, far exceeding previous estimates and revealing significant racial disparities in one of America’s fastest-growing metropolitan areas.
The research, published today in Pediatrics, marks the first comprehensive assessment of youth homelessness in a major U.S. metropolitan area that accounts for young people who never connect with support services. The findings suggest that traditional counting methods have severely underestimated the scope of youth housing instability.
“Our number may seem shockingly high, but is likely an accurate representation,” explains Dr. Josh Barocas, associate professor with the University of Colorado School of Medicine and the study’s senior author. “The definition of homelessness encompasses more than being on the streets or in shelters.”
By combining multiple data sources and collaborating across state agencies, researchers identified between 3,000 and 7,000 youth experiencing homelessness between 2017 and 2021 who were not captured by traditional service-based counts. This innovative methodology revealed stark racial inequities: Black/African American youth represented 23-37% of those experiencing homelessness, while Hispanic youth accounted for 46-56% of cases.
“We can’t ignore the disparities,” Barocas emphasizes. “Our study shows that current approaches are undercounting people at the population level and they are also dramatically undercounting by race and ethnicity.”
The study’s findings have significant implications for resource allocation and policy making. Dr. Matthew Westfall, a resident at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and study author, points out the broader impact: “This is important because it means that we are resourcing homelessness initiatives in city, state, and country based on underestimates. We are not providing nearly enough resources to reach every kid who is experiencing homelessness.”
The research team’s methodology could serve as a template for other cities grappling with youth homelessness. By working across agencies and combining datasets, researchers were able to paint a more complete picture of housing insecurity among young people aged 14 to 17.
“This study demonstrates that working with community partners, government agencies, and across data systems has the potential to elucidate information necessary for transformational change,” Barocas notes.
The researchers hope their approach will be adopted by other metropolitan areas to better understand and address youth homelessness. As cities nationwide face growing housing affordability challenges, accurate assessment of youth housing instability becomes increasingly crucial for developing effective interventions and ensuring appropriate resource allocation.