Youth Homelessness in America Every year, millions of people are experiencing some form of homelessness in the United States alone. Of those people who are experiencing homelessness, a large proportion of them is under the age of 24. Data has found that there are over 550,000 youth have experienced homelessness for more than a week over the course of a year (“Youth and Young Adults,” 2018). In many cases, youth homelessness can be prevented, but the lack of resources and services available to youth is limited. As a result, the issue continues to grow and affect more and more youth have to experience homelessness. By bringing awareness and hopefully an end to youth homelessness, society will not only help get these youth off the streets, …show more content…
For instance, a study published in 2009 discusses the importance of understanding the different aspects of this population in order to effectively help end youth homelessness. The study notes that are two typical forms of youth homelessness: children living in homeless families and unaccompanied youth. The first group, children living in homeless families, is essentially children who “live in families without a home” (Aratani, 2009, p. 4). Unaccompanied youth, then include those who are runaways, throwaways, and independent youth who have no contact with their family. Additionally, there is a multitude of factors that have been known to contribute to homelessness. These factors include, but are not limited to, lack of affordable housing, economic insecurity, behavioral health, etc. Research has found that the main contributing factors for children living in homeless families are the lack of affordable housing, poverty, and domestic violence (Aratani, 2009). Similarly, mental illness, substance abuse, and lack of affordable housing are the top contributing factors of homelessness among unaccompanied youth (Aratani, 2009). In addition to analyzing the factors that can cause homelessness, the article explores the impact that homelessness can have on youth. For example, homelessness can often lead to food insecurity since food supplies can be scarce, which can then have a negative impact on the child/youth’s overall health. Also, it can lead to juvenile delinquency, troubles with school, and “a greater risk of experiencing mental health problems” (Aratani, 2009, p. 7). When determining what programs and other resources are best fit to help end youth homelessness, it is important to understand the causes and impact of homelessness among youths in the United
Homeless youth are always dealing with poor nutrition, victimization, substance use, and abuse. Unfortunately the services provided are very limited and cannot help a huge chunk of the homeless youth. Homeless youth experience more substance abuse and drug addiction than non-homeless youth, this causes them to be mentally unstable and unable to be a functioning member of society. There are many temporary services provided such as shelters, drop-ins, meal programs, literacy improvements, and counselling programs; although these are available and there to help the youth, they are all flawed in their own ways. What the government does not take into consideration is the long term solutions to put youth in poverty to an end.
Young Australians being homeless in 2009 were 62% females who were concerned about homeless and leaving home at the age between 13 to 17 years old 73%. The young people who were homeless and had other concerns in the age between 18 to 25 years was 65% of them likely to be 92% female (show in figure 1.1). (Website 3) The health issues with in young homeless individuals include Mental illness and Mental disorders. Evidence shows that depression, anxiety and post- traumatic stress disorders are experienced by individuals young homeless
Poor physical and mental health, restricted access to chances for education and employment, and an increased likelihood of participation with the criminal justice system are all consequences of homelessness. The entire community is affected, therefore it's not simply an issue for the person. What can we do to address this then? In order to confront this problem and create answers, society as a whole must assume responsibility. Our efforts must be coordinated in order to increase young people's employment possibilities, make housing more affordable, and offer homeless individuals support services.
“1 out of every 100 persons in Europe- or approximately 3 million people [are] homeless,” (Blair 21) states Cornelia Blair, the author of Homeless in America. Not only is this number extremely high, it only accounts to one country; Imagine the number across all 136 countries scattered across the Earth. And the homeless population is constantly on the rise, creating a fear for many who live dangerously close to losing everything. Homelessness is a predicament that affects all people, old and young, and can last from as little as a few days to as long as the rest of their lives. It is a serious problem caused by low income, domestic violence and abuse, and lack of Veteran care, but can be amended by child sponsorships, help from the government,
Abuse and neglect are one of the top three leading causes of youth homelessness. “Studies show 70 percent of homeless youth have suffered some form of physical, sexual or emotional abuse” and “45.7 percent of street
As time goes on, the rate of homelessness rises as the population rises. Homelessness then was mostly caused by a family’s history of being homeless, drug abuse, mental disorders, and tyrannical leaders forcing his people into poverty. In modern times, several organizations are now trying to end homelessness by building cheaper housing projects more affordable to the poor and homeless shelters; these projects usually cost a fair amount of money.
As mentioned Vulnerable populations are categorized in many sub-segment and face with numerous challenges. For instance, the homeless population is one of the subgroup of vulnerable populations that facing tremendous economic and health conditions. It is estimated 564,708 people are homeless in the United States, and many of these homeless are youth under 18 years of age (Housing and Urban Development, 2016). Because of their leaving condition and precarious behavior of some homeless individual, they are at risk for poor health status. They are more susceptible to various diseases like skin infection, pneumonia, influenza, tuberculosis, hepatitis, and HIV.
Youth homelessness. In Canada this is becoming more than an issue, it's becoming a crisis. Every night thousands of Canadians between the ages of 16-24 struggle to survive. In a year around 200,000 Canadians experience homelessness, and youth between the ages of 16-24 make up 20% of that huge number.
The extent of teen homelessness has been impacted through law enforcement, family life, education and learning to survive those impacts. The percentage of homeless teens continues to increase every year, and the government is not helping those numbers go down. One of the reasons teens
“A considerable number of homeless youths have experienced child abuse in their families of origin prior to running away: approximately 50% are victims of child physical abuse (Rattelade, Farrell, Aubry, & Klodawsky, 2014), and between 25% and 33% are victims of child sexual abuse (Bender et al,pg 2, 2015)”. A way to prevent the kids being abused is by parenting classes and counseling to have a third persons input on it all and have monthly checkups on the family or someone else in the family stepping up and taking over the parental responsibility to keep the child safe. Making more education and career opportunities available to them will help them get off the streets faster and stay off the streets. Last we must start creating more charitable
Introduction Homelessness of youth has a deep significance that reaches beyond distinct youth and their instant families. The adverse influences of youth homelessness have greatly impacted our communities and the whole nation as well. According to the research about 1.6 million young people suffer from homelessness at different points around the year. When youth become homeless and leave their homes they are in danger of being involved in anti-social activities and their perilous behavior becomes victimized severely by various groups of society (Whitbeck, L.B et all, 2001). Runaway and homelessness act (RHYA), title III of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974 (JJDP) was approved officially in 2003 in the 10Sth Congress by the runaway, homeless, and missing children protection Act.
There are four major areas of state responses to youth homelessness issues: state criminal statutes, federal statutes and legislation, state assumption of responsibility, and emancipation. The state responses with regard to criminal statutes to list child neglect and abandonment as felonies, but parents are unlikely to report themselves and homeless youth are often afraid (rightfully so) to report their parents because they could be sent back to an abusive home. Federal responses have been largely more beneficial than those at the state level; the passing of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act in 1977 provided new services to homeless youth and acknowledged that, in many cases, their leaving home was not a choice. When the state assumes responsibility for the homeless child, problems can arise as well; many programs seek to reunify the child with their parents, which is often not the best option. Studies suggest that the alternative, living in group homes and shelters, is often more dangerous than living on the street.
Amongst these individuals teenagers living on the streets are at a higher risk of developing drug addictions and mental illnesses, mainly due to how young and impressionable they are (Homelessness in Australia 2012). According to Youth Of The Streets, a non-profit organisation that helps youths living in difficult substitutions find better living accommodation. Within the first 5 days of being homeless young people are at a high risk of developing a drug addiction (Homelessness in Australia 2012. Evidence suggests that
The youth sub category also has elements of sheltered and unsheltered homelessness, with sheltered being the more common in the majority of the states. The common reasons that cause youth to be homeless are split in to five categories, family dysfunction, transition or ageing out of foster care, physical or sexual abuse, mental issues, and economic complications. As a result of homelessness, youth face an array of problems, common ones are Sexually transmitted diseases, mental or physical illness, abuse of a mental, physical, or sexual nature, starvation, and exposure. “It is estimated that 5000 youth die every year as a result of assault, illness, or suicide” (Human-Services, Homeless and Runaway Youth 2013). Because the majority of homeless youth are not homeless by choice and are more often fleeing form an undesirable situation.
Over one and a half million teens and children in the United States are homeless. Part of this staggering number is related to parent absence, whether it be emotional or physical absence. When parents become absent in the lives of their children, these children then search for a way to escape, often finding themselves homeless and desperate for guidance. If it was required that these children and teens had adequate care and living conditions, the number of homeless children would drastically decrease. The issue of parent absence in the lives of impoverished children is similar to the collapsing of a multistory building, therefore, communities implementing frequent welfare checkups could ensure adequate care and mental stability, just as it