Yes, we’ve heard it.
This common and false belief about why youth experience homelessness is often accompanied by an anecdote about a young person who gets upset about chores or household expectations and decides to go live on their own.
The reality is less whimsical. Most youth don’t choose to be homeless but are forced to leave home to protect themselves from family conflict, to escape maltreatment due to sexual orientation, or to seek support when faced with an unexpected pregnancy.
Conflict within families can turn violent, and youth often leave home to escape the violence. A Chapin Hall study of youth homelessness revealed that most youth experienced volatile or unsafe family contexts which, over time, erupted into parental rejection, getting kicked out, or fleeing family conflict. Indeed, half of all youth in the District’s 2025 Homeless Youth Count reported conflict with family or household members, and 60% of youth served at Sasha Bruce stated that they’d left due to conflict with family or friends.
Nearly one-third (30%) of youth encountered by our street outreach program (across the District and Prince George’s County) reported being victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, or human trafficking. In the 2025 DC Homeless Youth Count, 20% of youth and young adults stated that their current episode of homelessness was due to domestic violence. One resident in our Drop-in Center stated, “Last year, I left my family after experiencing domestic violence. It was a toxic and unsafe environment, and I had to leave for my own survival. Walking away meant losing stability, familiarity, and the only home I knew — but staying would have meant losing myself.”
LGBTQ+ youth experience family conflict disproportionate to the general population. In the 2025 DC Homeless Youth Count, nearly 2 out of every 3 single youth (65%) identified as LGBTQ+. Many described rejection and expulsion from their families and being thrust into emergency situations without housing or employment.
Likewise, many pregnant and parenting youth are rejected by their families at a time when they need support most. “Mom says I need my own space now that I am a mom,” reported a young parent experiencing homelessness. Nearly half (45%) of pregnant and parenting homeless youth have been diagnosed with a mental health condition, but 29% of these youth state they do not currently have anyone in their life who can help them manage it.
Sasha Bruce meets youth where they are. We work under a positive youth development philosophy that views each youth as a valued, respected asset to society. Our policies and programs focus on the evolving developmental needs of youth, and we engage them as partners rather than demand adherence to our programming and preferences. We provide environments that support youth and advocate to parents and partner organizations for safety and inclusivity within their own walls. We offer a safe environment in which youth have an opportunity to experiment and develop positive social values and norms. And we engage youth in activities that promote self-understanding, self-worth, and a sense of belonging and resiliency. All of these measures build a foundation for positive youth development.
As you can see, youth homelessness is not what many people think it is. It is rarely about young people simply refusing to follow rules or wanting to live independently. More often, it is the result of difficult, unsafe, and sometimes traumatic circumstances that leave young people with few choices. Behind every statistic is a young person navigating challenges no one should have to face alone. Understanding why young people experience homelessness is the first step toward replacing judgment with compassion and ensuring they have the safety, support, and opportunities they need to build a brighter future.
