Breaking the Cycle: The Connection Between Youth Experiencing Homelessness and Sexual Exploitation
This year, concerning findings emerged from the 2024 Massachusetts Youth Count, which surveyed 661 young people across the state. These 661 individuals met the definition of an “unaccompanied young person currently experiencing homelessness” (UHY), as defined by the Massachusetts Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Commission. This definition includes young people aged 24 or younger who are not in the physical custody of a parent or legal guardian and who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.
The 2024 Youth Count demonstrated how the absence of a stable, safe home or support system leaves youth experiencing homelessness vulnerable to harm. Specifically, the survey showed the connection between homelessness and exchanging sex for basic needs. In 2024, 19.8% of youth experiencing homelessness reported exchanging sex or sexual content to meet needs like food, shelter, or money, an increase from 17% in 2021. Of this group, 26.7% said someone else controlled the profits from those exchanges, meeting the definition of commercial sexual exploitation.
These statistics point to a dangerous reality for many youth experiencing homelessness. Accessing essential services such as housing, healthcare, and financial resources is so challenging that the risk of exploitation increases significantly.
While there are resources available for youth experiencing homelessness in Massachusetts, existing legal and systemic barriers often inhibit access to them. Current Massachusetts law does not allow youth under the age of 18 to receive many services without the consent of a parent or guardian. While minors in Massachusetts can consent to some services, such as family planning and emergency medical treatment, without the consent of their parent/guardian they cannot consent to other basic services like lockers, showers, or case management. As a result, youth are turned away when trying to access these essential services because they do not have a parent or guardian to sign off.
Another major barrier is the requirement for state-issued identification (ID). Youth experiencing homelessness are often unable to obtain an ID due to the cost and need for parental consent in many cases. Without an ID, young people are unable to access essential services like healthcare, nutrition assistance, cash assistance, and employment opportunities. According to the 2022 Massachusetts Youth Count, the lack of ID was identified as one of the most significant obstacles to accessing these services. Specifically, 22% of homeless young people reported being unable to receive nutrition or cash assistance due to not having an ID. In addition, a lack of ID prevented 19% of young people experiencing homelessness from accessing essential health services, and 17% from accessing employment services.
These barriers to accessing basic services make youth experiencing homelessness more vulnerable to exchanging sex for needs. To end the cycle of commercial sexual exploitation, the barriers preventing youth from accessing the services they need must be addressed. Without action, the cycle of exploitation and harm will continue.
At MA Appleseed, we support An Act Allowing Certain Minors to Consent to Supportive Services (H.290/S.132). This bill would allow a mature minor between the ages of 15 and 18 who is experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness to consent to supportive services without needing a parent or guardian. We also support An Act to Provide Identification to Youth and Young Adults Experiencing Homelessness (H.3750/S.2399). This bill would create an exception process to waive the $25 fee and allow unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness to obtain a Massachusetts ID card without parental consent.
Both of these bills are crucial to ensuring youth experiencing homelessness can access the services they need and break the cycle of sexual exploitation.
To support these bills or join us in coalition, contact Nadia Romanazzi at nadia@massappleseed.org.
