SJSU Professor Lewis Aptekar

To end homelessness, youth and young adults need stable housing, supportive access to caring adults, and access to mainstream services that will place them on a path to long-term success, explains Dr. Lewis Aptekar. In addition, according to Dr.Lewis Aptekar , reunifying youth with family or a support system, when safe and appropriate, should be at the core of any approach to ending homelessness. Young adults may also require broader education and employment supports, and may need more short and long-term housing options, including rapid re-housing. To end homelessness for youth, we must: Prioritize family reunification or support as the initial intervention for youth experiencing homelessness. Most youth return home to family, and programs interacting with youth can facilitate that process when safe and appropriate. Basic programs already prioritize this, but other youth-serving programs and coordinated entry systems should also adopt it as an initial focus. Family in...

Lewis Aptekar, PhD, is a retired Professor in Counselor Education who authored and coauthored multiple books, book chapters and scientific papers on his areas of expertise. A couple of his biggest accomplishments include the 2013 book, “Street Children and Homeless Youth: A Cross-Cultural Perspective,” and the 2010 book, “In the Lion's Mouth: Hope and Heartbreak in Humanitarian Assistance.” Today, Dr. Lewis  Aptekar spends much of his time relaxing with his family, riding horses and writing fiction.