The first count of homeless youth carried out by the Mental Health and Anti-Addiction Services Administration (ASSMCA) identified 204 young people aged 18 to 24 who are homeless or in unstable housing in Puerto Rico, WAPA reported. They include young people who study, work and are building careers but still struggle to afford a safe place to live.
Estela Reyes, advocacy director at the Instituto de Desarrollo de la Juventud, told WAPA’s Viva la Tarde that 52% of children and young people in Puerto Rico live below poverty levels, and said access to assistance programs needs to improve. Services and aid exist, Reyes said, but many young people do not know how to reach them; she called for closer coordination between government agencies, universities and assistance programs so help reaches those who need it.
Corrected October 8: an earlier version did not say who counted the 204 young people or how old they are. The figure is from ASSMCA’s first count of homeless youth, aged 18 to 24, as WAPA reported.