Study: Hawai‘i No. 5 in Nation for Homeless Youth

WalletHub.com graphic.

Hawai‘i has one of the highest percentages of homeless youth in the nation, according to a new study released by WalletHub.com. According to the report, Hawai’i ranked No. 5 out of the 50 states, plus the District of Columbia.

The studyʻs main goal was to determine which states in the U.S. have the highest populations of at-risk youth by analyzing key indicators including education, economic status, drug use, health and employment. Based on the results, Hawai‘i ranked No. 34 in the nation for at-risk youth.

Despite ranking among the highest states for homeless youth in the study, Hawai‘i was determined to have one of the lowest populations of impoverished youth ranking at No. 49. The study also placed Hawai‘i as the state with the lowest percentage of youth without a high school diploma.

One in eight individuals between the ages of 16 and 24 are neither working nor attending school, according to the report published by WalletHub. Many suffer from poor health which adversely affects their ability to develop physically and adapt socially. Environmental factors that can contribute to at-risk youth include economic hardships, early pregnancy and violence–especially in adulthood–according to the report.

WalletHub.com graphic.