IMMIGRANT YOUTH
Angie is 20
years old and she has been homeless for approximately two years. She is
an immigrant from Mexico, but New York is the only home Angie has ever
really known. She was brought to the U.S. by her parents at the age of
nine, and has no ties to the Mexico. In fact, she barely remembers
living there. Angie attended a New York high school and has spent over
half her life in the United States, but she has never had permanent
legal immigration status here.
Since becoming
homeless two years ago, Angie has lived in several temporary shelter
programs, but has never been able to find long-term housing. It is
illegal for Angie to work because of undocumented immigration status,
and she is also ineligible for most government benefits. Angie cannot
imagine how she will ever support herself or get off the street.
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Immigrant homeless youth face particular challenges in
accessing the services they need to survive and make the transition to
permanent housing. Undocumented young people cannot work legally and
are ineligible for most forms of government assistance. Most have no
way to change their immigration status, no matter how much they may wish
to become legal residents or U.S. Citizens. Even young people who are
legal permanent residents of the United States often find themselves
ineligible for benefits they desperately need to survive.
CURRENT STATE
While there are no statistics on the percentage of homeless
young people who are immigrants, the most recent census data indicates
that 38 percent of New Yorkers are foreign born (Cheng, 2002). This
suggests that at least a third of the 20,000-40,000 homeless youth on
the streets of New York are immigrants, which means thousands of young
people face the dual challenges of being homeless and an immigrant.
In 1996, Congress passed legislation that severely limited
immigrants’ eligibility for important federal benefits programs like
Medicaid, Food Stamps, and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families.
Immigrants remain eligible for some New York state benefits programs,
but most young people who are completely without legal documentation
will not qualify for any government benefits other than emergency
Medicaid.
Immigrants are
not allowed to work in the United States unless they have immigration
status authorizing them to do so from the U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Service (USCIS, formerly the INS.) Unfortunately,
obtaining legal immigration status in the United States is extremely
difficult. Many immigrants who would like nothing better than to become
U.S. Citizens or permanent residents have no way of doing so. Young
people in foster care and those with parents or spouses who are U.S.
citizens or permanent residents may be eligible to apply for green
cards, but most others are not.
Young people who work without authorization are vulnerable
to exploitation and abuse by unscrupulous employers. Many must endure
unsafe working conditions, extremely long workdays, and are paid less
than minimum wage. Often undocumented workers are afraid to complain
about hazardous and exploitative situations because they are afraid of
being reported to the immigration authorities and deported.
Inability to access government benefits or safe, legal work leaves many
immigrant homeless youth without any means to support themselves or
transition to permanent housing.
EXISTING
SERVICES
Immigrant young people can access emergency housing through shelters
like Covenant House and those run by the Department of Homeless
Services, which do not turn young people away based on their immigration
status. Similarly, food pantries, soup kitchens and other sources of
emergency food typically serve both legal and undocumented immigrants.
There are also limited resources for immigrant youth who need legal help
applying to change their immigration status. Several non-profit legal
organizations will assist and advise immigrants on the legal remedies
that are available to them. Unfortunately, many homeless immigrant
youth have no legal remedy and are ineligible to change their status
even with a lawyers’ help.
SERVICE GAPS
Immigrant youth who need longer-term housing or a permanent home have
few resources. Longer-term transitional living programs for homeless
young people often require residents to work or otherwise obtain a
source of income that will enable them to live independently after
leaving the program. Since undocumented youth cannot work legally or
obtain public benefits, they have no such source of income and cannot
access these programs.
Similarly, many immigrant young people cannot obtain permanent housing
because they do not qualify for the government housing subsidies that
make housing in New York City affordable. Federal housing programs like
Section 8 rent subsidies and public housing are closed even to some
legal immigrants.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SERVICES FOR IMMIGRANT YOUTH
·
Increased access to
government benefits for immigrant youth who currently do not qualify for
assistance.
·
Transitional Living
Programs and other longer-term housing options sensitive to the needs of
immigrant youth who need help transitioning to permanent housing.
·
Make subsidized permanent
housing programs accessible to immigrant youth, including those who are
undocumented.
·
Create a legalization
program that would allow undocumented youth to obtain legal immigration
status in the U.S.
REFERENCES
Cheng, Amy (2002).
Census Notes Vast Rise in
Immigrants.
New York Newsday June 5, 2002.
