Homelessness In Youth
Youth Homelessness
by Isabelle Castaneda
The youth of this generation are constantly faced with struggle after struggle. Coming of age, fighting new emotions, figuring out self sustainability. Imagine dealing with all of those things while also being homeless. No one should have to worry about losing their home, but especially not someone so young.
There are lots of reasons youth can lose their homes. One of the most common reasons is because of family conflict, youth typically runway from home due to family conflict. Whether it be rejection of their sexual orientation, pregnancy, or abuse/neglect; But it can also be an economic problem. Themself or their parents/guardians may not be able to afford housing and other expenses.
Having this instability so young can lead to personal issues along the line, and leaving them in dark places with little to no resources. Some don’t even know where to look, they have no idea how to get help or where resources may be. There is also a large group of these young people who feel too ashamed to ask for help. Society has groomed most into thinking that receiving assistance is something to be looked down upon.
Aside from their emotional wellbeing, peoples health also declines as a consequence of homelessness. It can lead to substance abuse, unsafe sexual practices, gaps in education and employment, and criminal activity.
Our main focus should be on what they need to remove themselves from that environment, and what funds we can provide them. Homeless youth need not only stable housing, but supportive relationships with adults who encourage them, and urge them to find ways to succeed. Counseling is also extremely important to help them find better coping mechanisms, if they have professional guidance they will have more time to focus on getting back on their feet rather than being constantly burdened by their mental state.
There is no one blanket answer to solve youth homelessness, but together we can each do our part not only to prevent youth homelessness but take action whenever tragedy strikes.
There are lots of reasons youth can lose their homes. One of the most common reasons is because of family conflict, youth typically runway from home due to family conflict. Whether it be rejection of their sexual orientation, pregnancy, or abuse/neglect; But it can also be an economic problem. Themself or their parents/guardians may not be able to afford housing and other expenses.
Having this instability so young can lead to personal issues along the line, and leaving them in dark places with little to no resources. Some don’t even know where to look, they have no idea how to get help or where resources may be. There is also a large group of these young people who feel too ashamed to ask for help. Society has groomed most into thinking that receiving assistance is something to be looked down upon.
Aside from their emotional wellbeing, peoples health also declines as a consequence of homelessness. It can lead to substance abuse, unsafe sexual practices, gaps in education and employment, and criminal activity.
Our main focus should be on what they need to remove themselves from that environment, and what funds we can provide them. Homeless youth need not only stable housing, but supportive relationships with adults who encourage them, and urge them to find ways to succeed. Counseling is also extremely important to help them find better coping mechanisms, if they have professional guidance they will have more time to focus on getting back on their feet rather than being constantly burdened by their mental state.
There is no one blanket answer to solve youth homelessness, but together we can each do our part not only to prevent youth homelessness but take action whenever tragedy strikes.
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