New York Teen Hospitalized for Months Amid Lack of Housing Options
A 17-year-old in upstate New York has been residing in hospital facilities since August due to a lack of suitable placement after being discharged.
A 17-year-old in upstate New York has been living in hospital facilities since August after being discharged with no other options, according to a report by WWNY and published by the Daily Mail. The teenager was barred from returning to her caregiver's home in June following a stay-away order related to behavioral issues.
Since her discharge, the minor, who has not been publicly identified, has moved through four different homes and four facilities in Jefferson County. Her lawyer, Rebecca Simser, described the situation as difficult for all parties involved. Simser stated that her client does not qualify for voluntary or involuntary inpatient treatment and is not attending school, resulting in a lack of one-on-one mental health care while she occupies an emergency room bed.
Simser has petitioned a Jefferson County court to declare her client "destitute," a legal status for individuals who are homeless with no income or support. If granted, this status would transfer custody of the teen to the Department of Social Services. However, Simser claims the Jefferson County Department of Social Services has not agreed to file the necessary petition.
"I’m not saying that my client is blameless in all of this, but she’s not being afforded any protections that I can tell at this point," Simser told WWNY. "My hope is that if the system worked the way it was supposed to work, we could protect the victim, but we also get services and help for my client and make sure that she wasn’t suffering and displaced, and lacking while she transitioned into a more independent form of living away from the victim."
This case highlights a broader issue within New York. In 2025, a three-month period saw 52 children experience delayed discharge from hospitals across the state due to a lack of housing options, resulting in approximately 5,100 days of unnecessary hospitalization, according to data from the New York State Health Care Association. Simser emphasized that she does not fault the facilities involved but is seeking a resolution for her client.
