On November 13, the LBJ Presidential Library’s Future Forum convened a panel discussion with community leaders on solutions for families and children who are experiencing homelessness.

The Future Forum provides ongoing programming around public policy featuring insight from Austin’s thought-leaders. This compelling panel featured LifeWorks Chief Executive Officer Susan McDowell, Executive Director of Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO) Matthew Mollica, Homelessness Advisor and Member of ECHO's Membership Council Lyric Wardlow, and Director of Student Emergency Services at the University of Texas at Austin Kelly Soucy.

Jo Kathryn Quinn, event moderator and President and CEO of Caritas of Austin, led a gripping discussion around those often left out of the water-cooler conversations and articles—the families and children in Austin who are experiencing homelessness.

Before exploring the solutions, the discussion began with understanding the whys behind residential displacement. Although homelessness cannot be traced back to a single specific cause, there are many interwoven circumstances and institutional structures that will lead to an individual into homelessness. One of those factors is systems issues.

“There is largely a problem of supporting youth who are transitioning from systems that were never intended to nurture children and raise them to adulthood,” Susan explained.

After analyzing the data, we know that 76% of youth experiencing homelessness have been involved with foster care, the criminal juvenile system, or both. This insight has allowed us and our partner providers to better collaborate and progress outreach. We now provide the wrap-around support to address the specific needs of clients who have experienced these systems.

Lyric, who experienced homelessness from the ages of nine to sixteen, provided acute insight into the dichotomy of experiencing homelessness and the desire of wanting to be a “typical” teenager.

“When I was a teenager, I wanted to have fun,” Lyric said. “I couldn’t have a sleepover at the shelter. I couldn't go to SXSW or ACL because I couldn’t afford it. The mall was too far away. I had no way of being a young person, it got taken away from me.”

As Austin approaches a renewed understanding of human suffering, there is an opportunity for providers and the community to act thoughtfully and impactfully. With coordinated entry and collaboration, we can put the needs of the clients in the center of all we do.

To watch the full discussion, click on the video below.

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