Youth experiencing unsafe situations at home face the choice of staying in an abusive living situation or leaving home and trying to make it on their own. LCYC helps youth at this critical decision point to navigate their legal options, with the goal of preventing a youth from having to spend a night outside. LGBTQIA+ youth are at particularly high risk of experiencing homelessness due to lack of acceptance at home because of their identity.
Youth who find themselves in these situations often have complex issues that require both legal and non-legal support. LCYC and the YMCA Social Impact Center teamed up to develop a Prevention Youth Engagement Team model to provide holistic support, which launched in February 2024. This model includes legal aid, case management, and behavioral health services; youth can access one, two, or all three services depending on their goals and needs. Referrals for this program commonly come from social workers in schools. Unlike school staff, attorneys are not mandated reporters. This allows our team to creatively problem-solve with youth without fear of their situation being reported to the authorities.
In the short-term, LCYC can file an emergency guardianship, which allows for a youth to temporarily live with someone else other than their parents and/or if necessary, obtain a protection order for a youth’s immediate safety. This is often a first step before determining other possible, longer-term solutions. Long-term solutions include filing a permanent guardianship, where another adult (often another family member, coach, mentor) petitions for custody, working towards family reunification with court ordered services through a Child in Need of Services (CHINS) petition, or for youth ages 16 or older who are self-sufficient, emancipation may be another path. LCYC also helps youth obtain their ID documents (birth certificates, ID, social security card), which is critical for accessing public benefits and other community resources.
Having a stable relationship with a parent or guardian is unfortunately not the reality for all youth. When youth in these situations are at a crossroads, navigating the next steps can be overwhelming. A youth’s ability to have an open and honest conversation without fear of being reported is critical. Even more critical is the ability for youth to connect with legal and non-legal services that can support their journey, decisions, and goals. Legal aid is a powerful tool to prevent youth from experiencing homelessness. Together, with our community partners, we can develop holistic, trauma-informed, and youth-centered plans to help youth achieve safe outcomes. Whenever possible, LCYC takes an early intervention approach to reduce harm, and help kids get back to just being kids.