Switched-On Magazine

For many teenagers who have a stable shelter or who have not met any homeless youth, the idea of youth homelessness may seem unimaginable. It was the same case for me up until senior year of high school. I was introduced to the idea of youth homelessness through my involvement with an organization at my high school that chose to promote awareness about youth homelessness as the main focus for the year. Speakers were invited to come to our school to speak about the issue. Some of the speakers were previously homeless individuals that received help and were able to become involved in the society as a fully functional individual however there are many who are not as lucky to receive this privilege of being helped due to insufficient awareness of the situation and limited resources to help them.

The definition of being "homeless" isn't just limited to those who aren't living under a roof. It can also apply to those who lack a "fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence" according to the definition as provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Many teens probably have grown up with their parents forcing them to go home every night, but not everyone has the privilege of having a place to call home. There are many possible causes for youth homelessness. Although the actual cause may vary from person to person, some causes for homelessness among youth include abandonment by their parents, running away from home, or failure of a welfare system to support them.

As runaways are a part of the at-risk group for homeless youth, calling 1-800-RUNAWAY may be able to provide helpful resources. Additionally, there are a variety of other options out there available to help homeless youth of different background cases. For instance, there programs that offer independent housing to those who are unable to return to their family while there are others that focus on reuniting the homeless youth with their family or placing them in alternative families to help work out family issues and strengthen family ties. What each individual needs varies depending on their situation however, if you know anyone who seems to be in a difficult situation, don't hesitate to try and help them or at least direct them to somewhere where they can receive help. I think it would benefit them greatly because oftentimes a little help can get them into a better situation.