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ENDING CHILD
& YOUTH
HOMELESSNESS

Why This Issue Matters

Addressing housing insecurity is crucial to ensuring the well-being of Westchester’s youngest residents. Whether it involves living in temporary housing, shelters, or unsheltered areas, the mental, emotional and physical impact on children is life-altering.

Our Eviction Court Watching Program

Join Us in Ensuring Fairness: Court Watching Program
WCA, in partnership with our community allies, is launching a court watching program to promote justice in eviction courts and strengthen our advocacy against homelessness.

What is Court Watching?
It’s the practice of observing court proceedings with a focus on equity and documenting critical aspects to drive change. This powerful tool influences decision-makers and fosters accountability.

Our first group of dedicated volunteers is already in action. Want to make a difference? Subscribe now to volunteer for eviction court watching in the future.

Why This Work Counts

Homelessness can mean staying with others, living in shelters, or, in rare cases, being unsheltered. Regardless of the form, children and youth facing homelessness endure immense risks, including developmental delays, lifelong health complications, and behavioral issues.
 
No child should spend their formative years worrying about where they will sleep, living in constant stress and danger. Homelessness causes serious, lasting harm to their physical, social, mental, and emotional well-being.
 
Even temporary homelessness can severely impact a child’s academic performance, social interactions, and behavior. The time to act is now—let’s ensure every child has a safe, stable place to call home.

Find the Exact Numbers You Need

WCA is dedicated to providing you with precise and dependable data. Navigate through our extensive collections to find the exact numbers you need to support your goals.

Quote CALL-OUT

A renter in Westchester earning an average wage needs to work 75 hours a week or hold 1.9 jobs to afford a two-bedroom apartment. This is why Child & Youth Homelessness is a key issue area for WCA!
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WCA’s Current Efforts

  1. NEW! Volunteer for our Eviction Court Watching Program (4/11/2023)
  2. See our Westchester County Child & Youth Homelessness Data Dashboard
  3. Released our report, “Making the Invisible Visible: Westchester’s Hidden Homeless Children and Youth.”
  4. Advocating for a broader definition and standards for alternative housing.
  5. Fighting for an accurate count of children and youth experiencing homelessness.
  6. Convening a workgroup focused on child and youth homelessness in Westchester.
  7. Expanding homeless prevention services targeting homeless children and youth.
READ THE REPORT
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The Issue at Hand

Many children, youth, and families experiencing homelessness slip through the cracks due to Westchester County’s complicated definitions and standards for assistance. Inaccurate data on homeless children and youth prevents us from understanding the full scale of the problem, hindering concentrated efforts to combat it. Westchester’s children and youth facing homelessness are caught in reactive systems that fail to focus on prevention.

What Is WCA Doing?

WCA released the report, “Making the Invisible Visible: Westchester’s Hidden Homeless Children and Youth,” available for download. This initial publication shares findings from our nearly two-year investigation. We are now advancing this work and seeking partnerships across the county.
  • Advocating for Broader Definitions: We push for Westchester to adopt a common-sense definition of homelessness, including those lacking adequate housing alternatives. The current system leaves too many children and families without services.
  • Ensuring Accurate Counts: We fight for a representative count of homeless children and youth, using adequate housing as the standard, to properly allocate resources.
  • Forming a Collaborative Workgroup: We are creating an inclusive workgroup focused on child and youth homelessness, recruiting partners affected by and working with this issue.
  • Expanding Prevention Services: We increase funding and awareness for programs that prevent homelessness before it disrupts lives. Prevention is more effective than responding to its aftermath.

To Learn More or Get Involved

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470 Mamaroneck Avenue Suite 304
White Plains, NY 10605
914.946.7676
[email protected]

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  • Child & Youth Homelessness
  • Home Visiting / Early Childhood Development
  • Youth Justice / Raise the Age
  • Youth Development