Youth Needs Assesment

The Mid and Southeast Michigan Youth Homelessness Regional Partnership

September 28, 2026

Youth and young adults who experience homelessness or housing instability are at significant risk of poorer physical and mental health outcomes, disrupted education, and long-term economic instability. To better understand these challenges in Mid- and Southeast Michigan, the MSEMI Youth Homelessness Regional Partnership (MSEMI YHRP), led by Lighthouse in collaboration with a steering committee of partnership representatives, conducted a regional youth needs assessment. This report examines youth homelessness and housing instability in ten counties—Genesee, Huron, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Oakland, St. Clair, Sanilac, Shiawassee, and Tuscola—and identifies key factors shaping young people’s experiences with housing and support services.

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Key Recommendations

Based on these findings, participants identified ways to improve the regional response to youth homelessness. Recommendations fall into four key categories.

Strengthen system coordination and data infrastructure
Provide youth-specific programming and life skills development
improve intersystem collaboration
Promote services designed to meet the needs of young people

To read more about these suggestions in detail and to understand how these efforts can build a more coordinated and responsive system to prevent and address youth homelessness, download the report.