YouthNoise | The Issue: What if You Had Nowhere to Live?

What if You Had Nowhere to Live?

"I have slept on benches. It makes you feel disgusted because you know it's not where you're supposed to be. You're supposed to be at home with your family."
-"Tupac"
a homeless teen in
Washington, D.C.

It's hard to imagine what life would be like without your home, a warm place to sleep, food, your clothes, your phone...your stuff. But kids like "Tupac" don't have to imagine. For him and millions of others, that's life.

Some homeless youth are born into poverty and forced onto the streets. Others run away from home. However they end up on the street, 1.6 million young people (between the ages of 12-17) spend at least one night in an emergency shelter or on the street. The next day, these kids struggle to find a place to eat, bathe and most times to sleep again.

Shelters have been extremely successful in helping to get youth off of the street. Unfortunately, though, kids can't stay forever -- many leave or are forced out after few weeks.

	fwegan asks, "What do you do when someone on the street asks you for money?" Answer on Spare some change?: On giving to the homeless.

Here are the most recent stats available on runaways:

One out of every seven youth (15%) will runaway before their 18th birthday

46% had been physically abused before running away from home.

32% have been forced to participate in sexual activity against their will

47% leave because of a conflict with a parent or guardian

17% have dropped out of school

32% will try to kill themselves

Each year, approximately 5,000 runaway and homeless youths die from assault, illness and suicide

We can all help homeless youth. But it will take volunteers like you and me to make sure "street kids" have comfortable, safe, dependable shelters to go to. Find out how you can Be the Solution for Homeless Teens.



		• Prove that homeless Kids Matter with Just 1 Click! • Learn more about homelessness. • 300,000 homeless youth in the U.S.? Get more factoids.