Youth experiencing homelessness are often unseen.

As the President & CEO of Bridge Over Troubled Waters and a two-term State Representative who serves as Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities, I see firsthand the challenges faced by youth and young adults who find themselves homeless and without a support system.

Most discussions about homelessness and the Commonwealth’s housing crisis focus on families or chronically homeless adults. Rarely do they highlight the unique struggles of 14–24-year-old young adults who are adrift on our streets, stuck in adult shelters, or temporarily couch-surfing with friends or acquaintances.

For all young people, stability and safety are the foundations of success. As their brains continue to develop until age 26, they need guidance and support to transition into independent adulthood. Unfortunately, critical resources are often unavailable to homeless young adults. This cohort faces distinct challenges: they are ineligible for family shelters, and adult shelters are an unsuitable and unsafe option. Many have aged out of state systems or avoid them altogether after fleeing unsafe situations.

At Bridge Over Troubled Waters, we serve 2,000 individuals annually, more than 90% of whom are between the ages of 18 and 24. For over 50 years, Bridge has provided essential services to homeless, runaway, and at-risk youth. But we are not alone in this effort. Across the Commonwealth, we depend on a network of partner agencies, and together we advocate for improved services, greater funding, and stronger support systems.

Addressing youth homelessness requires both immediate action and long-term planning. Emergency shelters and permanent housing are critical, but they must be paired with ongoing services such as educational support, job skills training, and mental health care. Without these supports, young adults in survival mode are often forced to make desperate decisions.

Government at all levels, alongside residents and nonprofits, must prioritize the needs of young adults left behind in Massachusetts’ overall prosperity. We need programs that promote self-sufficiency and help young adults build meaningful futures free from dependence on social services.

No one should be left behind because the social safety net failed them. Without intervention, these young adults face grim outcomes, including incarceration, addiction, or chronic homelessness—challenges that carry far greater societal costs over time.

What can you do to help? Start by recognizing that homelessness is not one-size-fits-all. Homeless young adults are often hiding in plain sight, working at grocery stores, cafés, or other jobs while struggling to find stable housing. Solutions must extend beyond providing a roof—they require comprehensive services that support education, employment, and life skills.

Support public policies that expand services for young adults, demand efficient use of public funding, and reduce barriers that prevent youth from accessing services. Consider learning more, volunteering and donating to organizations that specialize in young adult needs, as they are best equipped to identify where help is needed most and how to deliver it effectively.

Together, we can provide young adults with the opportunities and support they need to thrive.

Elisabeth Jackson is President and CEO of Bridge Over Troubled Waters.

Jessica Giannino represents the 16^th Suffolk District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.