Why Southern California's most vulnerable youths face hunger during school holidays

Orange County nonprofits that work with unhoused youths say about 20% lack reliable meals and that intensifies when schools go on break.

When their food situation worsens, youths can be more vulnerable to exploitation by human traffickers.

The holidays are a time when people gather with loved ones and celebrate abundance, but when California’s most vulnerable young people aren’t going to school because they are on break, it means even more uncertainty over where to find food. And that leads to even greater risk.

That’s the finding of a coalition of Orange County nonprofits that is tracking 500 at-risk youths to better understand what they need to live more stable lives and steer clear of abusive situations.

The collaboration uses a new tool for digital case management, research and pre