Why Employment Matters

Housing Instability Among Young Adults

1 in 10 young people in the U.S. experiences some form of homelessness each year. For many, this doesn’t mean living on the street—it means couch surfing, staying in unsafe or temporary situations, or cycling between shelters and housing insecurity.

I AM A YOUNG ADULT IN NEED OF SUPPORT

Breaktime associate smiling after Launchpad Graduation

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Employment Isn’t a Simple Solution

75% of youth experiencing homelessness are unemployed.
It’s a myth that young people can simply “get a job” to escape housing insecurity. In reality, housing insecurity creates deep barriers to employment, including:

Lack of job experience or mentorship

No permanent address for applications

Mental health challenges

Physical

disabilities

Gaps in

work history

Unreliable access to transportation

Even when jobs are available, young adults experiencing housing insecurity often face discrimination in hiring processes due to bias around their housing status.

The Breaktime way.

At Breaktime, we know that employment is key to ending young adult homelessness—but only when it’s supported, paid, and inclusive. Our programs bridge this gap by providing job training, stability, and a pathway toward long-term housing security.

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1 in 10 young people ages 18-25 experience homelessness in a given year in the US.

89% of young people 18-24 experiencing homelessness are BIPOC.

78% of Breaktime alumni are currently in stable housing situations.

89% of Breaktime's young adult alumni were employed or in school in 2024.

Housing Instability Among Young Adults

Employment Isn’t a Simple Solution

The Breaktime way.

At Breaktime, we know that employment is key to ending young adult homelessness—but only when it’s supported, paid, and inclusive. Our programs bridge this gap by providing job training, stability, and a pathway toward long-term housing security.