West Palm Beach, FLH (November 10, 2025) — November marks National Youth Homelessness Awareness Month, and Vita Nova, Inc. is urging the community to take notice of a growing crisis—right here in Palm Beach County.
According to the 2025 Point-In-Time Count, there are over 1,500 homeless people in Palm Beach County. Many young people face homelessness due to family conflict, abuse, or rejection—particularly among LGBTQ+ youth—and lack access to affordable housing, mental health care, and basic resources.
For more than two decades, Vita Nova has served as a lifeline for local youth aging out of foster care or facing homelessness, offering safe housing, education, job readiness programs, and life-skills training to help them transition to stable, independent lives.
“Youth homelessness often goes unseen, but it’s happening right here in our own community,” said Jeff DeMario, CEO of Vita Nova. “Many of the young adults we serve are working, going to school, and trying to better their lives—they just need a safe place to call home and someone to believe in them.”
Each year, thousands of young adults across Florida experience homelessness or housing instability, often “couch surfing” or living in unsafe environments. In Palm Beach County alone, Vita Nova serves hundreds of youth ages 18–25 who lack family support or permanent housing.
Raising Awareness and Inspiring Action
Throughout November, Vita Nova is leading initiatives to spotlight this issue and invite community involvement:
- #TheirStoryOurMission Social Media Campaign: Follow @VitaNovaInc to see weekly stories highlighting the resilience of youth overcoming homelessness.
- Donation Drive: Vita Nova is collecting gift cards, hygiene items, and non-perishable food to support its housing programs and drop-in center. Donations can also be made through Vita Nova’s Amazon Wish List
- Items may be delivered to The Spot – the only drop-in center for homeless youth in Palm Beach County – located at 2724 N. Australian Ave., West Palm Beach, FL 33407.
“Awareness is the first step toward change,” added DeMario. “When young people know there’s hope and a network of support, they can move from surviving to thriving.”
Vita Nova invites individuals, businesses, schools, and faith communities to join the movement through donations, volunteerism, or advocacy — to ensure every young person in Palm Beach County has the opportunity to build a brighter, more stable future.
Fast Facts: The Hidden Crisis of Youth Homelessness
- Fact 1: Vita Nova could see as many as 5 new intakes per week—that’s up to 260 homeless youth each year. Youth homelessness affects all communities, from Palm Beach to Jupiter and Wellington. It can impact any family, at any time.
- Fact 2: Nearly 15% of households with youth ages 18–25 experience homelessness or housing instability. Causes often stem from family conflict, abuse, neglect, or aging out of foster care—creating long-term risks for mental health and stability.
- Fact 3: For every $100 increase in median rent, the local homelessness rate rises by 9%. During the COVID-19 pandemic, rents surged by an average of $300—while incomes lagged far behind.
How You Can Help
- Get Informed: Share what you’ve learned with friends, colleagues, or community groups.
- Support Vita Nova: Donate funds or essential items like hygiene kits, socks, and food.
- Advocate: Encourage policies and funding for affordable, youth-specific housing and wraparound services.
About Vita Nova:
Vita Nova is a safe bridge to independence for former foster care, LGBTQ, and other homeless youth through supportive housing, education, employment, and life skills training. Vita Nova, Inc., located in West Palm Beach, Florida, is comprised of three components: the Spot, Housing (The Village), and Independent Living.
Vita Nova means “new life” in Latin and was founded by Father Leo Armbrust, a man who believed that foster youth deserved a better quality of care. Through the efforts of the Vita Nova team members, its volunteers, and its benefactors, older foster and homeless youth are allowed to lead lives characterized by independence, self-determination, and personal responsibility.
To learn more about Vita Nova or to donate, visit vitanovainc.org or call 561.689.0035