A couple samples:
New York:
http://www.myfoxny.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=5228560&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1
MyFoxNY.com --
Thousands of young people in New York City are homeless, according
to a new survey.
The Empire State Coalition found at least 3,800 homeless population
are under age 25. Twenty-eight percent of that number are gay or
bisexual.
A large number of those young people had been in state or city care
at some point before they wound up on the street.
St Louis:
Statistics
Why are there Homeless youth in Missouri?
Behind the face of every homeless youth is another heart-breaking
story: A 15 year boy abused by his alcoholic parent; or a pregnant
girl rejected by her guardian; or a teenager trying to escape gang
membership or a life of prostitution. In case after case, the main
cause of youth homelessness is physical, sexual and/or emotional abuse
from parents or guardians.
* Last Year the National Runaway Hotline reported over 2,500 calls
from homeless youth in Missouri, a rate 4 times that of other states
in our region.
* In 2006, Covenant House NINELINE reported 7,160 calls from youth
in the state of Missouri.
According to a sampling of homeless youth in St. Louis City and
County; (done by Legal Services of Eastern Missouri and Saint Louis
University):
* 8% were orphans, made homeless by death or illness of a parent.
* 24% were forced out of their homes by parents or other adults.
* 66% of youth had been victim of physical or sexual abuse.
* 14% fled the effects of substance abuse in the home.
What about foster care?
Many of the young people living and dying on the streets of our
communities are former foster children who have aged out of the
system. They are too old for the foster care system but too young to
take care of themselves without a family or support system.
* Almost 40% of young people who come to Covenant House have spent
time in foster care.
* 32% of CHMO -ROP youth in FY 2007 were formerly in DFS/DYS
custody.
Why should I be concerned about homeless youth?
Beyond humanitarian reasons, the cost to our society is staggering.
Today’s homeless youth will become tomorrow’s unemployable and
chronically homeless adults.
* 27% of the St. Louis City population is under 18.
* 28% of homeless youth will spend at least some time in places
such as cars, abandoned buildings, on the streets or other public
places. (1)
* Society pays an enormous price for failing to help high-risk
youth. According to Vanderbilt Professor Mark Cohen, that cost is $1.7
– $2.3 million PER CHILD.
Without a stable home or support system, young people drop out of
school and end up totally unprepared for the workplace. Without adult
mentors, role models or educational opportunities, they don’t have the
life skills, vocational skills or education to get a decent job.
Eventually, unemployment and lack of education and skills can lead to
poverty, crime and drug abuse. Kids on the street are less likely to
finish high school and obtain a living wage job. They are more likely
to end up in jail, abuse alcohol and drugs, become teen parents,
and/or become victims of violence.
* The cumulative high school dropout rate in St. Louis is 50%.
* 17% of St. Louis City youth are having children.
* 36% of St. Louis city youth are living in poverty. (2)
* As many as 42% of the homeless kids will be physically
assaulted.
* 13% will be sexually assaulted.
* 13% will be forced into “survival sex”. (3)
Worst of all is the human cost, the cost to our society. By falling
through the cracks of our society, our communities are robbed of the
potential talent and energy of these young people. These young people
are our future, and their future needs our support.
(1) Greenblat, M. and Robertson, M.J. (1993). Homeless
Adolescents: Lifestyles, Survival Strategies and Sexual Behaviors.
Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 44:1177-1180.
(2) Vision for Children at Risk (2005). Children of Metropolitan
St. Louis Report of the Community
(3) Legal Services of Eastern Missouri,
The Older Homeless Adolescent Task Force, and St. Louis University
(2002).
The Older Homeless Adolescnet Youth Count Needs Assessment.
Los Angeles, and SF:
http://www.covdove.org/Services/Statistics.htm
Statistics
* There are an estimated 12,000 to 15,000 homeless youth living on
L.A. County streets and another 10,000 living in the Bay Area.
* Of the 1,500 youth who emancipate from the foster care system in
Los Angeles and Alameda Counties each year, nearly 50% will be
homeless within six months.
* Homeless and emancipated foster youth experience
disproportionately higher rates of unemployment, lower educational
attainment, incarceration, dependence on public assistance, substance
abuse, non-marital childbirth and other high-risk behaviors.
* According to the Local Emergency Shelter Strategy for Los
Angeles County, there are only 468 beds, or 3% targeted for
unaccompanied youth. For Alameda County, our shelter is the only one
serving 18-21 year olds.
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