Ending Youth Homelessness - Staffing

The work to end youth homelessness in Polk County will serve youth and young adults under age 25 who are unaccompanied or parenting (and their children) and meet any federal definition of homelessness. Effective implementation of the community plan will require ongoing leadership and commitment from stake holders. Continued involvement of an active youth advisory board will also be instrumental to successful implementation. The top five most important strategies have been identified to implement over the next 12 months, which will serve as a starting point. Progress will be measured by tracking the following indicators collected by the Polk County Continuum of Care: newly homeless, returns to homelessness, length of time homeless, discharges from placement without achieving permanency (emancipation), supportive relationships, count of unsheltered, and exits from homelessness to sage and stable housing.