Youth Homelessness Is Not What You Expected

When Shayla first walked through the doors of Outreach Indiana, she carried more than just a bag of laundry. She carried the weight of uncertainty.

She was grieving the loss of her father, struggling to stay in school, and facing homelessness, unsure where she and her belongings would end up next. Like many youth who come to Outreach, Shayla wasn’t living on the streets. She was quietly fighting to survive, trying to stay in school while figuring out where to sleep that night.

LaTanya Reed, Outreach’s Program Center Coordinator, remembers those early days vividly.

“Shayla used to walk in, you would see her with all her laundry, and you could see everything she carried on her face.”

Her story is one of courage, and also one that reveals a much larger truth: Youth homelessness isn’t what most people expect.

The Hidden Reality of Youth Homelessness

In Indianapolis, an estimated 8,100 youth experience homelessness each year.
But unlike the images that often come to mind…people sleeping on park benches or in encampments…most of these young people go unseen..

They’re couch surfing, staying in cars, bouncing between motels, or doing whatever it takes to stay off the streets. It’s called hidden homelessness, and it’s one of the biggest barriers to getting help.

“Youth homelessness is rarely visible,” explains Andrew Neal, CEO of Outreach Indiana. “Many young people realize that shelters or encampments aren’t safe for them, so they go wherever they can. They’re surviving…but unseen.”

That invisibility has serious consequences.

Most housing programs are designed for adults and prioritize those who have been homeless the longest…those labeled chronically homeless.

For young people like Shayla, that means the system often works against them.

“If a youth spends a few nights in their car and then crashes on a friend’s couch,” Neal says, “their homelessness ‘clock’ resets. Suddenly, they’re told they’re not homeless enough to qualify for services.”

It’s a devastating message, and one Outreach is determined to change.

Meeting Youth Where They Are

For nearly three decades, Outreach Indiana has been walking alongside youth and young adults ages 14–24 who are experiencing homelessness. Their mission is rooted in relationship and dignity: meeting youth where they are and helping them take the next step toward stability.

Through programs like ARCH (Academic Resources & Coaching for High Schoolers), Diversion, and Navigation, Outreach provides youth with critical support from meals and hygiene items to employment guidance, mental health resources, and housing connections.

Outreach’s Diversion program, for example, helps youth who are on the brink of homelessness…maybe couch surfing or days away from losing a place to stay…by finding creative solutions to prevent them from becoming unhoused. Sometimes that means covering the first month’s rent or mediating an agreement with a host family.

“The beautiful part,” Neal explains, “is that when you help someone in that situation and get them stabilized, the chance of them becoming homeless again significantly decreases.”

From Surviving to Thriving: Shayla’s Next Chapter

Over time, Shayla began to rebuild. With the help of her Outreach coach, she gained stability, found housing, and started believing in her own future again.

Two years later, Shayla’s story looks completely different.

She’s graduated, secured a full-time job, and now has her own apartment. She’s also taking classes at Ivy Tech, preparing for what’s next.

Though she’s aging out of Outreach’s 14–24 age range, she’ll never age out of the community that supported her.

“If we can help youth (like Shayla) early,” Neal says, “we can change everything…for them, for their families, and for the city. Because when young people succeed, Indianapolis succeeds.”

A Call to Step In, Not Step Back

This November, during Youth Homelessness Awareness Month, Outreach Indiana is inviting the community to see beyond stereotypes, to understand that youth homelessness is not what you expected, and to help make change where it matters most: before the streets, before the system, before another youth gets lost in the gaps.

“These young people are our future employees, parents, and leaders,” Neal says. “When we invest in them, we invest in the health and strength of Indianapolis.”

Your support helps Outreach continue this vital work, from coaching programs and crisis intervention to housing and mental health care.

To learn more, donate, or get involved, visit: www.outreachindiana.org or give directly at www.outreachindiana.org/donate.

Because youth homelessness isn’t what you expected, but together, we can make sure it doesn’t have to be their future.