Although pregnancy and parenting rates among teens have decreased over the years, the teen birth rate in America is still higher than in many other developing countries.Homeless youth are particularly at risk for teen pregnancy.One fifth of homeless youth females have been pregnant. On top of the stress of trying to provide the basic necessities for themselves, homeless teen mothers are now inundated with the stress of having to provide for a newborn. While there are current government programs tailored specially to homeless teen mothers, to be effective, it is important to ensure that these programs are readily accessible to those the programs were implemented to assist.

    There are a number of challenges that homeless teen mothers face in attempting to qualify for government assistance; specifically, under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program (TANF). The biggest challenge has become meeting and maintaining the eligibility requirements relating to schooling and living arrangements. In relation to the schooling requirement, homeless teen mothers often find that their school of origin will not re-admit them, or a lack of alternative education programs available for mothers in their situation. In relation to living arrangement, teen mothers often find that there is a lack of options for a minor parent. When a young mother is unable to meet the schooling requirement, and/or qualify for approved housing this means that the teen mother is ineligible for TANF and other government programs. Without having access to much needed assistance, while encountering the demands of parenting and being a teen, homeless teen mothers find themselves trapped in a vicious cycle that consumes their hope and dreams and aspirations.