Youth homelessness grows across Colorado

• The trend reflects rising economic barriers, family conflict and young people aging out of systems such as foster care, the report finds.
• Expanded outreach is likely playing a role as well, bringing previously undercounted youth into view.
• Statewide, 53,776 people were unhoused last year, a slight decline from the previous year. Of those, at least 3,624 were 24 or younger.

Zoom in: Denver bucked the statewide trend. The city's PIT data showed a decline in youth homelessness, including a 28% reduction in sheltered and a 57% drop in unsheltered homelessness.

How it works: The Colorado Homeless Management report combines annual Point-in-Time survey data with information from shelters, emergency weather shelters and soup kitchens.

Caveat: Families — who also saw a rise in homelessness last year — and youth may not be counted during the PIT for privacy reasons, Metro Denver Homeless Initiative executive director Jason Johnson said during a Wednesday press conference.

Case in point: A family living outside may avoid contact with surveyors as parents or caregivers focus on keeping their children safe, Johnson added.