ENDING CHILD
& YOUTH
HOMELESSNESS

Why This Issue Matters

Advocating for housing access and legislative solutions directly impacts family’s health and safety. Rising costs of housing are difficult for families to maintain. Children may be displaced by eviction hearings, where low-income families have disproportionate access to legal counsel. Inconsistent definitions of homelessness leave some people unaccounted for, such as those in overcrowded living circumstances.

Become a Volunteer Court Watcher

WCA, in partnership with our community allies, organizes a court watching program to promote justice in eviction courts and strengthen our advocacy against homelessness. 

WCA's Current Efforts

Volunteer Eviction Court Watchers Program: train volunteers to observe landlord-tenant eviction court in Westchester and advocate for tenant’s increased access to legal representation. Use this data to support the county’s implementation of Access to Counsel legislation and expansive state Right to Counsel services. 

Westchester County Homelessness Data Dashboard: track housing needs across local municipalities to display the demonstrated demand for increased homelessness-prevention resources. 

Expanding the Definition of Homelessness: join the county workgroup “Shockingly Severely Overcrowded Housing” to create the most inclusive definition of homelessness to include those in overcrowded, “doubled and tripled” living conditions, qualifying them for support services. 

Child Homelessness Workgroup: recruit community partners to work alongside us in identifying key challenges and preventative solutions. 

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.

Take Action

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!

More Resources

  1. Read the report “Making the Invisible Visible: Westchester’s Hidden Homeless Children and Youth” 
  2. Read about Westchester’s Access to Counsel Bill 
  3. Read about the Statewide Right to Counsel Bill 

To Learn More or Get Involved

image

Subscribe for Advocacy Alerts & opt-in for child homelessness emails

image

Follow us on social media @wca4kids

image

Email us

Become A Volunteer

Don't miss out

Sign up to receive emails about WCA’s child advocacy, events, and ways that you can get involved.
  • Child & Youth Homelessness
  • Home Visiting / Early Childhood Development
  • Youth Justice / Raise the Age
  • Youth Development