Description
The Youth Homeless System Improvement (YHSI) Needs Assessment is a Los Angeles County–funded, mixed-methods study examining the experiences of young adults facing homelessness and housing instability across the county — and how the systems meant to serve them can work better.
About
Conducted through the USC Homeless Policy Research Institute, the YHSI Needs Assessment examines the experiences of young adults (ages 18–30) experiencing homelessness and housing instability in Los Angeles County. The project synthesizes research on youth homelessness and developmental transitions, applies a human-development framework to guide data collection and interpretation, and centers the education and employment pathways that shape long-term stability. Its findings are designed to generate actionable evidence for youth-centered homelessness policy, service delivery, and cross-system improvement across the county.
Project Team
Royel M. Johnson
Co-Principal Investigator
Associate Professor, USC
Jared Schachner
Principal Investigator
USC Homeless Policy Research Institute
Funder
This project is funded by the Los Angeles County Department of Homeless Services and Housing and conducted through the USC Homeless Policy Research Institute.
