Research Powerpoint
Transcript: America, land of opportunity and prosperity. However, why is it that children ranging from 12 to 17 years of age are more at risk of being homeless compared to adults? The National Runaway Switchboard estimates that on any given night there are approximately 1.4 million homeless youth living unsupervised on the streets, in abandoned buildings, with friends or with strangers. Homeless youth are at higher risk of physical abuse, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, mental health disabilities, substance abuse, and death. It's estimated that 5,000 unaccompanied youth die each year as a result of assault, illness, or suicide. Economic Problems Statistics...(2) "We enter a little coffeehouse with a friend of mine and give our order. While we’re approaching our table two people come in and they go to the counter - ‘Five coffees, please. Two of them for us and three suspended’ They pay for their order, take the two and leave. I ask my friend: ‘What are those ‘suspended’ coffees ?’ ‘Wait for it and you will see’ Some more people enter. Two girls ask for one coffee each, pay and go. The next order was for seven coffees and it was made by three lawyers – three for them and four ‘suspended’. While I still wonder what’s the deal with those ‘suspended’ coffees I enjoy the sunny weather and the beautiful view towards the square in front of the café. Suddenly a man dressed in shabby clothes who looks like a beggar comes in through the door and kindly asks ‘Do you have a suspended coffee ?’ It’s simple – people pay in advance for a coffee meant for someone who can not afford a warm beverage. The tradition with the suspended coffees started in Naples, but it has spread all over the world and in some places you can order not only a suspended coffee, but also a sandwich or a whole meal." Increased likelihood of high-risk behaviors, including engaging in unprotected sex, have multiple sex partners and participating in intravenous drug use. Greater risk of severe anxiety or depression, suicide, poor health and nutrition and low self-esteem Increased likelihood of exchanging sex for food, clothing and shelter (also known as survival sex) or dealing drugs to meet basic needs Difficulty attending school due to lack of enrollment records and transportation Homeless GLBTQ youth are more likely to exchange sex for housing or shelter, are abused more ofter at homeless shelters and experiences more violence on the streets than homeless heterosexual youth Family problems: Many youth run away, and in turn become homeless, due to problems in the home, including physical and sexual abuse, mental health disorders of a family member, substance abuse and addiction of a family member, and parental neglect. In some cases, youth are asked to leave the home because the family is unable to provide for their specific mental health or disability needs. Still some youth are pushed out of their homes because their parents cannot afford to care for them. Homeless youth, often refereed to as 'unaccompanied youth', are individuals who lack parental, foster or institutional care 3.5 million people are homeless on any given day, out of the 3.5 million 39.5% are children Family Problems Basic Information Reasons many teens/children end up homeless: Rivera, Juliana English IV "We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty." - Mother Teresa The Pending Coffee Abuse Kicked-out Economic Problems* Foster Youth Family Conflict* Economic problems: Some youth become homeless when their families fall into difficult financial situations resulting from lack of affordable housing, difficulty obtaining or maintaining a job, or lack of medical insurance or other benefits. These youth become homeless with their families, but later can find themselves separated from them and/or living on the streets alone, often due to shelter or child welfare policies Statistics Street Outreach (Workers of this program drive, walk and bicycle the streets looking for youth in the streets and provide basic needs for such as food, clothing Drop-In Center (Youth can receive basic needs such as showers, doing laundry and this program serves meals twice a day.) Transition Home (Female program designed to provide support, guidance and structure to youth. Seek to help youth of 16-19 years of age.) One in seven young people between ages of 10 and 18 will run away 75% of runaways are females Estimates of the number of pregnant homeless girls are between 6 and 22 percent Between 20 and 40 percent of homeless youth identify as Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender or Questioning (GLBTQ) 46% of runaway and homeless youth reported being physically abused, 38% reported being emotionally abused, and 17% reported being forced into unwanted sexual activity by a family or household member Questions? A Growing Statistic Resources Consequences