What is the Youth and Young Adult (YYA) vulnerability tool and why are we using it?

The YYA Vulnerability Tool is an assessment created by youth and young adults, for youth and young adults. It is specifically designed to reflect the unique experiences, vulnerabilities, and language of young people facing houselessness. The tool uses accessible, everyday language and aims to provide a non-harmful experience for participants

Who should receive the YYA vulnerability tool?

The youth vulnerability tool shall be administered to all participants who are 24 and younger who meet the eligibility criteria below: 

• Literally homeless;
• Fleeing DV;
• Chronically homeless;
• Imminent risk of homelessness

Will my participant be included on all relevant Priority Lists with this tool?

Yes.  Young and young adults only need to complete one assessment with one tool to be included on all relevant Priority Lists. The score of the youth vulnerability tool is directly proportionate to the adult vulnerability tool.

My participant is already on the Priority List. Do I need to do a new assessment?

No. The goal of this tool is to lessen harm ad trauma associated with assessments. If you participant’s assessment expires before they are referred to housing, you will then administer the new youth vulnerability tool. 

*If a youth or young adult requests a new assessment, please complete a new assessment with the new tool. Youth voice, youth choice.

What if I accidentally administer the adult tool for a Youth or Young Adult?

The participant will be placed on the Centralized Waitlist. We will not ask assessors to complete a new Front Door Assessment to minimize trauma. 

#1 Do you have a long-lasting health problem or needs that aren’t being met? For example, are you missing important medicine? 

Have ongoing medical problems playing a roll in the households’ instability therefore contributing to the loss of housing?

Example: Josh was diagnosed with Type-1 diabetes at the age of 8. He doesn’t like to take his medication and hasn’t shared his diagnosis with his employer. He often forgets his insulin pen at home.  His symptoms have caused regular conflict with is co-workers and his hours at work have been reduced because of it. He was evicted recently and owes arrears.

#2 Have you ever lost your home because you or someone in your family was very sick?

Have medical needs impacted income of the individual or the head of household been the root cause of homelessness? 

The question looks at the family dynamic factors that may play a roll in houselessness. 

Example: Josh’s dad got injured on the job. Once the worker’s compensation ended the family struggled to earn enough to pay rent and other bills. Josh’s family was evicted before moving in with his paternal grandmother. There wasn’t enough room at the house for all of the family so Josh decided to couch surf.     That was three years ago and Josh has been living off and on the streets since then.

#3 Do you often use emergency services? Emergency services include places like the emergency room. 

Is the household a frequent user of “one-time” services for crisis needs?

Example: Akil heads the emergency room at least twice a month for ongoing stomach/digestion issues to seek medical care. They haven’t established a primary care physician and haven’t figured out what is causing the ongoing issues. They often are waiting until it is bad enough, so they get a ride via EMS transport. 

#4 Have you or someone in your family been hurt or scared in a way that makes you feel unsafe right now? Did someone hurt or threaten you, and did that make it hard for you to keep a place to live? 

Has the individual or anyone in their household been abused thus impacting housing?

Has the individual left the home or been forced out by unsafe situations? The unsafe living situation can be created by an adult or impact the individual’s whole family but it must have impacted the living environment. 

Example: Zayleigh’s mom took a credit card out in Zayleigh’s name a few years ago. She stopped making payments 1 year ago. Zayleigh moved out of the family home 2-months ago after her mom’s boyfriend continued to threaten her safety. Zayleigh has struggled to get approved for housing due to her credit score. 

#5 In the past year, did drinking alcohol or using drugs cause problems in your life or with your home? 

Have substance use played a role in your-or your family’s-housing instability. 

Has it impacted school, work, or relationships? Have substances caused any disturbances in the household?

Example: Rory and her dad like to relax at the end of the day sharing a case of beer. This has led to late nights, missed alarms, school delinquency and missed work. They have recently moved to a smaller house so money wasn’t as tight. They moved into a property owned by her dad’s boss but Rory is worried that her dad is close to being fired and will loss housing altogether. 

#6 Have you ever been in or tried to get help at a rehab center because of using drugs or alcohol? 

Have you ever been to treatment center due to your own substance use?

Example: Claire’s decided to enter a 90-day recovery center after her family staged an intervention. She had to break her lease when she went into treatment and lacks income currently to get into new housing.

#7 Before you turned 18, did a judge tell you to go to a treatment program, spend time in jail, or live away from home because the government got involved?

Has the individual every been a ward of the courts or ODHS? 

Example: Julie found herself in legal trouble. After a stay in prison she was released to the Looking Glass Regional Crisis Center. Her parole officer makes her check-in daily. Because of her felony she is struggling to find employment. 

#8 Have you ever been treated badly because of who you are when trying to get or keep a place to live?

How has your identity impacted your housing?

Has the individual been discriminated because of their identity? Immigration status? Sexual orientation? Gender? 

Example: Aster took a tour of an available housing unit and overheard the property manager saying, “I hope more transgenders don’t try to rent from me”. Aster decided to put in an application anyway and was denied. All signs point to discrimination based on her gender identity. 

#9 Have you or your family ever been homeless or had trouble keeping a steady home? 

Has the household been impacted by generational homelessness or poverty?

Example: Steve’s single mom struggled to keep a roof over their head. With each eviction it became harder to find housing and Steve has struggled to attend school regularly. At the age of 21 he still hasn’t graduated high school. He began couch surfing at the age of 15 and still moves between friends’ houses.

#10 Does being pregnant or a parent impact your chances of getting a home?

Pregnant and parenting YYA experience barriers to gainful employment as well as struggles to find affordable child-care. 

Example: Keelee has a 2-year-old and is currently pregnant. They just went through a break-up with their baby-daddy. They moved back in with their parents but they need to be out by the time the baby is born. They have struggled to find employment and are worried about how they will afford daycare once they live on their own.

#11 Is someone asking you to do something that makes you feel uncomfortable in exchange for money, food, a home or feeling safe?

Has the household engaged in trafficking; drug, sex or labor trafficking so that they have access to basic needs. 

Example: Sam helps run drugs for her roommate to keep him from threatening to kick her out.