Number of Homeless Teens in Illinois Rising

According to a story reported by the Associated Press, the number of homeless teens in Illinois has increased steadily, and the majority of them are females, says the first detailed study of this subject in 20 years.  

The results of the study were released at the Statewide Youth Homelessness Conference at the University of Illinois at Chicago in partnership with the Illinois Department of Human Services, and the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless.  The study estimates that there were 25,000 homeless teens in Illinois in 2004.  This represents an increase of nearly 4,000 from the last comprehensive study in 1985.  Additionally the study found that the percentage of homeless females who said they had been pregnant doubled in the intervening 20 years.

Copyright:  NEOCH; Housing Grapevine: Cleveland, Ohio- December 2005/ Issue 74