January 7, 2026
Students experiencing homelessness without a parent or guardian face significant barriers due to limited access to educational stability, health care, housing, and other essential resources. Often overlooked within traditional service systems, these unaccompanied youth are at heightened risk of exploitation and harm, yet remain an under-identified population with few programs designed specifically to meet their needs. Led by VCU associate professor Alex Wagaman, a new multistate research initiative is elevating the voices of young people with lived experience, generating critical data, and strengthening evidence-based practice to inform policy reforms that improve safety, access to services, and educational continuity for unaccompanied students across Virginia and beyond. Project HOPE-Virginia is underwriting the Virginia pilot in partnership with Wagaman, reflecting their shared commitment to identifying barriers and needs among unaccompanied youth and strengthening education as a key protective factor against homelessness in adulthood.
News Source: Social work project sees an ‘invisible population’: Homeless, unaccompanied youth