By the Valley Water Youth Commission
Youth homelessness continues to be a growing challenge in the United States, and Santa Clara County has seen some of the most significant increases in recent years. Last year, the Youth Commission achieved its goal of assembling 100 hygiene kits for unhoused youth in Santa Clara County. This would not have been possible without the generous help of people like you. The kits were delivered to the Bill Wilson Center, where they helped support young people in need. This year, the Youth Commission is working to meet that goal once again. We need your help to make it possible.
There are many reasons why youth may experience homelessness, including insufficient income, financial instability, and lack of family support. So, what can we do to help?
Here are some facts from the Bill Wilson Center on the unhoused youth population in Santa Clara County:
- Youth and young adults make up 12% of the unhoused population
- San Jose has the highest per capita youth and young adult homelessness in the United States
- Forty-two percent of children live in households that are not self-sufficient
- More than 500 families are waitlisted for shelter
- The number of households with children experiencing homelessness increased to 33% from 2023 to 2025
The Bill Wilson Center works to address this crisis through housing programs, counseling and support services, and outreach. They also operate a drop-in center for youth that provides meals, education, training, and more.
Unhoused youth often face significant environmental dangers during storms and the winter flood season, particularly in low-lying areas prone to rapid flooding. Flash floods can develop with little warning. Floodwater can be hazardous, as even shallow, moving water can cause someone to fall, hide debris, or contain contaminants such as sewage, oil, or chemicals. These hazards highlight the importance of providing unhoused youth with reliable hygiene supplies that support their health and safety during both daily challenges and emergency situations.
The Valley Water Youth Commission is committed to helping unsheltered youth access day-to-day necessities. To support this effort, we are partnering once again with the Bill Wilson Center to host a hygiene kit drive, collecting essential items that will be distributed to unhoused youth in Santa Clara County. We invite the community to participate by donating supplies through our Amazon Wishlist portal here: delivr.com/27tsn.
Submit your donations by Friday, January 2, 2026. With these supplies, the Valley Water Youth Commission will assemble eco-friendly hygiene kits. Our goal is to once again create at least 100 kits that include:
- Hand soap
- Sanitizer
- Oral hygiene products such as toothbrushes and toothpaste
- Band-Aids
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Tissues
- Feminine hygiene supplies
- Flashlight
- Backpack
- Mylar Thermal Compact Waterproof Blanket
- You Are the Solution to Water Pollution brochure
- Additional personal care items
We hope you join us in making a positive impact, supporting environmental awareness, and providing care to the unhoused youth in our community. Please feel free to email youthcommission@valleywater.org with any questions.
