Community factors influencing the prevalence of homeless youth services

Studies of homeless youth services conclude that services contribute to improving the life chances of homeless youth, but little research has addressed the structural conditions that promote the creation of these services. This study investigates the prevalence of programs serving unaccompanied homeless youth in 26 metropolitan areas from 1989 to 2006. Specifically, it examines the extent to which the supply of funds, the need for services, and politics affect the prevalence of services. The findings suggest that political culture and supply measures (e.g., federal grants and homeless youth funding) have a greater effect on the prevalence of programs than the need for services.