The New York City Association of
Homeless and Street-Involved Youth Organizations’

State of the City’s
Homeless Youth Report 2003

PARENTING AND CHILDCARE 

When Julie began prostituting, she was 14 years old and on the run from a group home.  Her experience in the child welfare system had proven more damaging than the home life she was removed from, and she decided to try to make it on her own in the streets.  Julie’s pregnancy, four years later, served as a catalyst for change in her situation.  She worked diligently to secure her own housing and began receiving public assistance so she would no longer need to rely on prostitution for income.  Additionally, Julie decided to begin pursuing her education.  She was accepted into a four-year college and received honors for her first semester of course work.

Public assistance requirements made it impossible for Julie to continue her studies, due to a mandatory full-time workfare assignment.  The shelter, where she has been living for over a year, requires that she remain on public assistance in order to stay there.  It is also through the shelter that Julie receives the childcare that she needs for her daughter.  Julie recently began prostituting again -- this time with the goal of earning a living independent of welfare, so that she may return to school.  Although having a child motivated Julie to move off the streets, the requirements of the system seem intent on convincing her to go back there.  She describes feeling like she is always “in a fight”. 

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

            According to the most recent statistics available from the Coalition for the Homeless:

•   In the past two years, the number of homeless families has increased by 11 percent.
   

•  The average age of a homeless parent is 22 years old.
   

•  Nearly one-in-five homeless parents were in foster care as a child.

            Homeless and street-involved youth who are also the parents of young children face the double challenge of enduring the hardships of street life while managing the stress of being responsible for their children’s well-being.  The majority of homeless adolescent parents are survivors of poverty, homelessness, abuse, disintegrating families and communities, inadequate child welfare, lack of child care, and other social service systems.  These young parents do not have access to information regarding parenting because such educational efforts are usually conducted through traditional youth-oriented social support systems, such as schools, health clinics, community centers, and other formal systems.  Negative experiences have left many homeless young parents disenchanted and distrustful of these systems when their needs have not been met.

            Confusion over identity, life transitions, familial abuse, relationships, and violence are often magnified for adolescents that do not feel a sense of support or community.  However, homeless young parents, in addition to the above concerns, also need to attain immediate basic necessities such as housing, food, and street safety.  Therefore, they have little or no opportunity to develop the practical, emotional and interpersonal skills that would enable them to safeguard their own health, avoid exploitation and substance abuse, and safely parent their children. Lacking social supports and suffering from their own histories of parental abuse and neglect, many street-involved parents wind up repeating a cycle that results in losing their children to foster care. These youth need to see the positive possibilities in their own futures or destructive decision-making skills and coping mechanisms may get passed on to their children.

CURRENT STATE

            Supportive services for homeless teen parents are often provided in conjunction with shelter.  Most non-shelter programs serving homeless youth do not provide services specifically geared towards the needs of parents.  In fact, due to liability issues, children are not welcome at most non-shelter homeless youth programs.

            Shelter programs for homeless parents often require compliance with rules that are overwhelming for this population.  Work and school requirements, curfews, and unwanted supervision often discourage teen parents from seeking shelter through programs geared toward youth.  Adult shelter services are available to older teen parents, but require that the family be receiving public assistance.  Housing provided through the adult shelter system is currently the only option available for two-parent households.  Bureaucratic process and frequent denial of applications discourages all families in need, but is particularly challenging for homeless teen parents who often lack the confidence and experience to effectively self-advocate and persevere.

            Public assistance programs, including WIC and Medicaid, are often the only means of economic support available to homeless teen parents.  The initial application and enrollment process for these programs can be daunting for youth.  Additionally, workfare requirements coupled with a lack of suitable childcare options often results in the termination of benefits for many parents in need.  Continuing education has become impossible due to work requirements attached to public assistance eligibility.  The inability to pursue educational resources has an especially limiting effect on homeless teen parents, most of whom have not completed high school.  Homeless families on public assistance often find themselves trapped in cycle that consumes most of their time, resources, and hope.

EXISTING SERVICES

            Homeless teen mothers can receive supportive services through several youth shelters that welcome parents.  However, these mothers often elect to seek shelter through the adult system so that they may live with their co-parent.  The adult shelter system offers no supportive services to meet the specific needs of parents who are also youth.

            Parents who are not receiving public assistance can apply for subsidized childcare through the Agency for Child Development, which determines eligibility, and issues vouchers and other subsidies for a range of child care settings.  According to federal guidelines, families earning less than 200% of the federal poverty level are eligible to receive some form of childcare subsidies.  Parents who are receiving public assistance should be automatically eligible to receive childcare subsidies, and should access available services with the help of their case managers.  However, public assistance caseworkers are often overburdened by their caseloads and unable to provide mandated services to young parents.  There is also an oppositional style that permeates the system of Public Benefits, and caseworkers are rarely eager to explore options for young parents.

SERVICE GAPS

Benefit Programs:

            There is a structural lack of childcare slots within the city.  According to a recent report issued by the Citizens’ Committee for Children of NY over 100,000 NYC children aged infant – 5 are eligible for but do not currently receive childcare subsidies.  In many neighborhoods the availability of childcare centers is limited. 

            Parents often find their benefits discontinued for technical reasons creating an atmosphere of instability in their lives, and the absence of reliable child care does not allow them to pursue work or training opportunities that might present themselves.  Additionally, parents whose benefits are discontinued because of stable employment are eligible for transitional benefits, including childcare subsidies, but are often discouraged from applying due to inadequate case management, lack of information, and general difficulty negotiating the benefits system.

Supportive Social Services:

            Youth programs are rarely equipped to deal with small children, and adult services fail to adequately support teens. Homeless teen parents face an overwhelming set of obstacles as they try to satisfy the requirements of the welfare reform legislation, while trying to provide homes for their young children, receive an education that prepares them for a better future and ensure that their children are properly protected, stimulated and prepared for their own precarious futures.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PARENTING AND CHILDCARE SERVICES

·  Develop additional housing options for homeless teen parents, especially for two-parent families, and provide comprehensive supportive services at these sites.

·  Alter welfare reform legislation to enable recipients to pursue an education. 

·  Increase availability of childcare options and support. 

·  Develop educational materials geared specifically to homeless youth parenting population.

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