Franklin County, Ohio · State of Youth
An estimated 4,938 young people experience homelessness in Franklin County each year. Coalition services create an estimated $2.46–$3.57 in social value for every $1 invested.
The scale of the need
4,938
young people estimated to experience homelessness in Franklin County each year.
An annual estimate, not a one-night count or a count of service contacts.
Source: researcher estimate provided by The Youth Partners Coalition.
Social return on investment
The research estimates the broader value of outcomes such as stable housing, employment, access to care, and trusted relationships.
$2.46
lower-bound estimate of social value for every $1 invested in Youth Partners Coalition services.
Social value is an estimate, rather than revenue or a guaranteed financial return. Outcome rates come from Star House and Huckleberry House; the range reflects different financial proxy values.
Source: 2026 State of Youth report, pp. 58–59 and 71–78.
01 / What stability means
Young people described the difference between a place to stay and a place they can rely on.
For the youth interviewed, stability meant permanence and control: having their own key, privacy, knowing they could return, and knowing they would still be able to stay tomorrow.
Source: 2026 State of Youth report, p. 17.
In their own words
…if you stay with a family member, that can change at any second because you have no legal rights over that place.
Source: 2026 State of Youth report, p. 17.
The distinction matters
Youth Crisis Line · 2022–2024
Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Youth Crisis Line answered 10,807 calls in 2022 and 12,177 in 2024.
2024
12,177calls answered
These are calls, not unique young people or a count of youth experiencing homelessness.
Source: 2026 State of Youth report, p. 6.
02 / What records miss
Child welfare and crisis line measures describe different points of contact, but neither counts every young person facing housing instability. Someone staying temporarily with friends or relatives may be missing from formal homelessness counts and eligibility rules.
Source: 2026 State of Youth report, Introduction (PDF p. 2) and p. 17.
A friend’s home, a relative’s spare room, or another temporary arrangement can provide a roof tonight without the right to stay tomorrow.
A place to sleep is not always stable housing.
Source: 2026 State of Youth report, Introduction (PDF p. 2) and p. 17.
03 / Safety is part of stability
In focus groups, young people described crowding, limited privacy, worries about their belongings, inconsistently enforced rules, and bullying related to gender identity in temporary shelters and shared living spaces. Being indoors did not always mean feeling secure.
Source: 2026 State of Youth report, p. 17. These accounts are qualitative findings, not a prevalence estimate.
04 / How instability begins
Young people in this research described different paths that often overlap.
The death or loss of a caregiver, family conflict, or leaving a home that was unsafe or unaccepting.
Entering adulthood without enough preparation or support after leaving foster care or a residential setting.
A lost job or income, rent increase, or another change that unravels an already precarious situation.
A relationship or temporary arrangement ends without another safe, permanent option.
Different paths. A common loss or absence of a safety net.
Source: 2026 State of Youth report, p. 19.
A housing setback can disrupt school, work, health care, and caregiving. Each new challenge can make stable housing harder to regain.
Source: 2026 State of Youth report, Introduction (PDF p. 2).
Go deeper into the research
Explore the findings, youth perspectives, methodology, and recommendations for collective action in Franklin County. Research was conducted by Illuminology for The Youth Partners Coalition.
From findings to action
The report identifies three priorities for collective action: prevent housing instability before it starts; increase access to stable, affordable housing; and strengthen trusted relationships and support networks.
Source: 2026 State of Youth report, pp. 53–56.
The Youth Partners Coalition
The Buckeye Ranch, Home for Families, Huckleberry House, Kaleidoscope Youth Center, Ours Brothers Keepers, Star House, and YMCA of Central Ohio work across the continuum of youth housing support.
Source: 2026 State of Youth report, pp. 4–5 (PDF pages).
Seven organizations. One shared commitment to young people.
