BUTTE COUNTY, Calif. — Butte County is spotlighting the urgent issue of youth homelessness this November. The Voices United Youth Advisory Board is organizing events for National Homeless Youth Awareness Month to highlight the challenges faced by homeless young people in the area.

According to the California Department of Education , nearly 1,800 students experienced homelessness in Butte County during the 2023-24 school year. The 6th Street Center for Youth in Chico assists about 275 homeless youth annually, but the county lacks an overnight youth shelter and adequate mental health and employment resources.

Youth experiencing homelessness are highly vulnerable to abuse, addiction, and mental health issues. Nationally, around 4.2 million young people face homelessness each year, w

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