Quick Facts: North Carolina

• Law & Policy: 46% of metrics met
   

  • Laws authorizing comprehensive supports and services for youth experiencing homelessness: 42% of metrics met 
     

  • Preventing youth experiencing homelessness from coming into contact with the criminal and juvenile justice systems: 43% of metrics met 
     

  • Providing unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness the opportunity to seek legal independence and live independently: 88% of metrics met
     

  • Addressing the educational needs of youth experiencing homelessness: 17% of metrics met 
     

  • Allowing youth experiencing homelessness to access critical supports and services: 44% of metrics met 
     

• Systems: 28% of metrics met 
   

• Environment: 0% of metrics met

State Score 2020: 35

State Ranking 2020: 47

North Carolina Highlights

One area where North Carolina has moved the needle relative to other states is in providing youth the opportunity to seek legal independence and live independently.

Law & Policy

• The state doesn’t consider running away a criminal offense.

• The state gives minors contract rights OR allows them to enter into binding contracts for certain purposes (e.g. necessities).

Systems​​

• None.

Environment

• None.

Recommendations for Improvement

There is room for improvement throughout the metrics for the Tar Heel State across all categories. Enacting and funding a state RHYA law, implementing a coordinated state government response to youth homelessness, and protecting the rights and interests of youth experiencing homelessness, including LGBTQ youth, should be prioritized.

Law & Policy

• The state should pass a law that funds and provides oversight and regulation to youth homelessness services.

• The state should allow shelters to take in youth experiencing homelessness with a delay or waiver of notification requirements.

• The state should explicitly allow partial and alternative school credit accrual for homeless youth through regulations.

• The state should explicitly allow unaccompanied youth under 18 to apply for health insurance coverage without parental consent.

Systems

• The state should create and adopt a public plan to end homelessness that includes youth (and specifically LGBTQ+ youth).

• The state should create an entity – such as an Office of Youth Homelessness Services – that focuses solely on designing, implementing, and evaluating youth homelessness programs.

Environment

• The state should establish and maintain a stipended community advisory board for youth that informs youth homelessness policy (Youth Action Board). 

• The state should require training about sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, healthy sexual development or issues specific to LGBTQ+ youth for staff working in RHY Systems.

• The state should establish nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ youth in youth homelessness services.