Nationally – and here in Georgia – the crisis of homelessness is escalating. After decades of improvement the problem has worsened in recent years. The State of Homelessness 2024 Edition shows that a record-high number of people experienced homelessness in 2023, more than a 12% increase from 2022. Data from the National Center for Homeless Education 2022 shows nearly 1.2 million children were either literally homeless (living in a shelter or in locations such as a car or tent) or doubled-up (sharing housing with friends or family).
The Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) Program at Advocates for Children provides critical support and emergency shelter for youth in crisis. As a FYSB-funded RHY program through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, we are dedicated to ensuring that young people experiencing homelessness or fleeing unsafe situations have immediate access to safety, resources, and long-term stability. Our Safe Place program serves as the first point of contact, connecting youth in crisis to trained staff who can quickly assess their needs and offer support. For those requiring emergency shelter, Newman House provides emergency beds, giving youth a safe and secure place to stay while our team works to connect them with housing options, counseling, and essential services. Whether a young person needs short-term intervention or a long-term path to independence, our RHY program ensures that no youth in our community has to navigate homelessness alone.
Ellie’s story
When Ellie* reached out to Advocates’ Youth/Young Adult Housing Program, she was experiencing the dark trauma of her mom’s death and the lack of local family support. She was in high school, attending classes and working while trying to continue living alone in her mother’s home.
After finding stable housing through Advocates, she graduated on time with honors and maintained employment while obtaining college scholarships. At Kennesaw State University she was accepted to the CARES program that provides year-round housing for students in need.
She is passing all her classes, living in housing on-campus, joining the school’s barbell team and running for senator of the college for construction and agriculture.
Ellie has a bright future and is deeply grateful to Advocates for allowing her to achieve ambitious goals. Her life is transformed.
