When the coronavirus outbreak first occurred, few could have imagined the impact it would have or how long it would last.
Over a year has passed and while California is officially “re-opening” in less than a month, the effects of the pandemic will be felt long after the public health emergency is over, particularly for foster youth.
In May, JBAY released the findings from a statewide survey of foster youth to understand the impact of the pandemic on foster youth. A total of 598 youth from across California completed the survey. Key findings include:
- Over 1 in 5 youth reported experiencing an episode of homelessness since the start of the pandemic; those who did were more likely to drop out of school and be unemployed.
- 100% of students reported that the pandemic has had a major impact on their education. Reduced communication was the most cited impact (57%); more than a quarter (28%) stopped attending classes and 1 in 8 reported dropping out altogether due to the pandemic.
- 57% of youth attending college reported receiving assistance from their campus basic need program and 87% reported that the help they received was helpful or very helpful. Students who accessed these services were more likely to remain enrolled in school and less likely to have had an episode of homelessness.
- Compared to non-parents, parenting youth were more likely to have experienced homelessness, housing instability, and food insecurity and were less likely to be employed.
The report also includes youth profiles and quotes. A 20-year-old former foster youth explained the challenges of securing housing during the pandemic: “I was homeless before the pandemic. It was hard finding stable housing during this difficult time.” Another youth explained the impact on their mental health, “I didn’t shower, I didn’t eat, I didn’t talk to my boyfriend, I didn’t talk to my grandparents, I didn’t do schoolwork. I didn’t do anything. I just stayed in bed, and I slept, and I just cried.”
Following its completion, JBAY held a webinar attended by over 250 people and shared the report with key members of the legislature and the Newsom Administration to advance our policy agenda.