- P850 -

Supporting the high school graduation and continued success of youth experiencing homelessness The Problem YOTOs chief focus is education specifically a high school diploma as a tool to break the cycle of poverty. Arizona currently has the 2nd worst graduation rate among the 50 US states NCES 20182019 school year data and over 5600 homeless students have been identified in Pima County Arizona Department of Education 2014. Graduation rates for youth experiencing homelessness are extremely low due to the stress they face with their daily circumstances. Without the stability of a home and support of a family youth experiencing homelessness face unique barriers to education such as the inability to meet school enrollment requirements high mobilityinstability lack of transportation poor health fatigue and hunger.