In Honduras, young people are considered legal adults when they turn 18 years of age. At that point, those who have grown up in institutional care often lose crucial emotional and practical support that a family would provide.

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In many cases, this lack of support is due to limited resources within the institutions where they grew up. In other cases, it reflects policies that effectively end involvement at age 18, offering no meaningful guidance or follow-up, and sometimes only a token payment.

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According to a census published by UNICEF and SENAF in June 2025 (link), there were 1,144 children between the ages of 15 and 17 living in group homes. By 2028 at the latest, they will be legally considered adults, joining the uncounted number who are already on their own. All of these youth have suffered trauma and separation in their childhoods, which affect their development and ability to adapt to independence at age 18.

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While nearly all adolescents would struggle with the loss of their support system, those who grew up institutionalized suffer at an even more alarming rate. Although complete data in Honduras in limited, studies from multiple countries consistently show that young adults leaving institutional care have elevated risks of homelessness and unemployment and are less likely to complete their education.

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These young people do not stop needing support at 18 – they simply lose the network of people and resources that once provided it.