The series centering poverty and homelessness continues with books for young adult readers! There have been some cruel statements made in the American media and actions taken by the U.S. government that target unhoused individuals in recent months. In response to those words and actions, we're sharing resources for folks in need of food, shelter, or other supplies, ways young adult readers can support people experiencing poverty, homelessness, and food insecurity, and books you can read that discuss these topics either in fictional or nonfictional contexts.
Ways for Teens to Volunteer or Give Back
- Top 24 Volunteer Ideas for Teens | YMCA
- Fueling Young People to Change the World | DoSomething.org
- Volunteer Ideas for Teens: 40 Ways to Give and Serve – Marriage Kids and Money
- Volunteer Opportunities at Your Local Food Bank | Feeding America
- Best Teen & High School Volunteer Programs Abroad | IVHQ
Directory for Shelters
- Homeless Shelters
- Institute of Global Homelessness Home - Institute of Global Homelessness
- Regional Organizations - Institute of Global Homelessness
- HUD Resource Locator
- Shelter Search: Find Homeless Shelters Near Me
- Contact - SEARCH
- Homeless Shelters | Find Homeless Shelters | Homeless Shelter Search
- Find Shelter | HUD.gov / U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
- A Solution to Homelessness that is Overlooked
Image Description: A stack of books authored by Jane Austen with the bindings facing out. The covers are in pastel colors.
Credit: Leah Newhouse / Pexels
10 YA Books that Center Poverty and Homelessness
- Tyrell by Coe Booth
- Blink & Caution by Tim Wynne-Jones
- The Life and (medieval) Times of Kit Sweetly by Jamie Pacton
- Kicked Out edited by Sassafras Lowrey
- Split Ends (Divine and Friends #2) by Jacquelin Thomas
- Money Boy by Paul Yee
- Sleeping in My Jeans by Connie King Leonard
- Now Is the Time for Running by Michael Williams
- Joseph by Shelia P. Moses
- Pieces of Me by Darlene Ryan
- Find Layla by Meg Elison
- Stacie & Cole and R.M. Johnson
- Where I live by Brenda Rufener
- No Known Address by Steven Barwin
- In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner
- The Ballad of Dinah Caldwell
- We're All Mad Here by Marie Kuipers
- The Hollow Inside by Brooke Lauren Davis
- Becoming Chloe by Catherine Ryan Hyde
- Golden Arm by Carl Deuker
- Can't Get There from Here by Todd Strasser
- More Than Money: How Economic Inequality Affects Everything: Hadley Dyer
- Ernő Rubik and His Magic Cube by Kerry Aradhya
- My Good Man by Eric Gansworth
- Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt
- The Getaway by Lamar Giles
- Outrun the Moon by Stacey Lee
- Home and Away: One Writer's Inspiring Experience at the Homeless World Cup by Dave Bidini
- Almost Home by Kevin Ryan
- Every Falling Star by Sungju Lee
Sources
- The best novels about teen homelessness and poverty (Shepherd): The best novels about teen homelessness and poverty
- Teen Books about Poverty and Homelessness (Kenosha Public Library): Teen Books about Poverty and Homelessness — a staff-created list from Kenosha Public Library | Kenosha Public Library | BiblioCommons
- Top 10 Fiction about Homelessness & Poverty Books for Teens & Young Adults (Find This Best): The 10 Best Fiction about Homelessness & Poverty Books for Teens & Young Adults of 2025 (Reviews) - FindThisBest
- Teen & Young Adult Fiction about Homelessness & Poverty (Shop by Tags Buyers Guide): Compelling Teen Reads on Homelessness and Poverty
- Fiction>Teen/Young Adult>Homelessness (Black Children's Books and Authors): Fiction > Teen/Young Adult > Homelessness | Black Children's Books and Authors
- Homeless Youth - an SFPL Booklist for Teens (San Francisco Public Library): Homeless Youth - an SFPL Booklist for Teens — a staff-created list from San Francisco Public Library | San Francisco Public Library | BiblioCommons
- Homelessness & Poverty: A Reading List for Teens (Westmont Library): Homelessness & Poverty: A Reading List for Teens - Westmont Public Library
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