Quick Facts: New York
Performance Breakdown
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Law & Policy: 71% of metrics met
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Laws authorizing comprehensive supports and services for youth experiencing homelessness: 92% of metrics met
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Preventing youth experiencing homelessness from coming into contact with the criminal and juvenile justice systems: 86% of metrics met
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Providing unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness the opportunity to seek legal independence and live independently: 75% of metrics met
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Addressing the educational needs of youth experiencing homelessness: 33% of metrics met
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Allowing youth experiencing homelessness to access critical supports and services: 50% of metrics met
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Systems: 67% of metrics met
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Environment: 65% of metrics met
State Score 2022: 69
State Ranking 2022: 8
2022 Score
2021 Score
69
78
New York Highlights
Some areas where New York has moved the needle relative to other states include authorizing comprehensive supports and services for youth experiencing homelessness and preventing youth experiencing homelessness from coming into contact with criminal and juvenile justice courts.
Law & Policy
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The state has RHY statutes similar to the federal Runaway and Homeless Youth Act (RHYA) that provides funding for emergency services and other supports to prevent and end youth homelessness.
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State law provides youth experiencing homelessness some contract rights.
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The state does not consider runaway youth as delinquent or a status offender.
Systems
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There is a current state plan to end homelessness.
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There is a state entity that focuses solely on designing, implementing, and evaluating youth homelessness programs.
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There is a state interagency council on homelessness.
Environment
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The state has banned conversion therapy for minors on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.
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The state promotes safe and inclusive environments in child welfare, juvenile justice, and runaway and homeless youth programs by providing protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
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The state requires training about sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, healthy sexual, development or issues specific to LGBTQ+ youth for staff working in RHY Systems.
Recommendations for Improvement
There is room for improvement throughout the metrics for the Empire State including addressing the educational needs of youth experiencing homelessness.
Law & Policy
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The state should explicitly allow partial and alternative school credit accrual for homeless youth through regulations.
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The state should explicitly allow unaccompanied youth under 18 to apply for health insurance coverage (without parental consent).
Systems
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As part of the state plan to prevent and end homelessness, include a strategy to address homelessness among LGBTQ youth.
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The state should allow youth to obtain a state-issued identification card without parental consent.
Environment
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The state should create a public awareness campaign/common messaging for local awareness campaigns for youth homelessness.
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The state maintains a community advisory board for youth that informs youth homelessness policy.