Vulnerable Populations: Homeless Youth
Homeless Youth
Gale Dowling
BSHS 301
June 19, 2012
Rachelle Jackson
Homeless Youth Homeless youth is a rapidly growing problem in society today. There are many types of homeless youth and numerous contributing factors to their unfortunate situation. People need to have compassion toward these youth. These adolescents are the least understood, most vulnerable and most difficult to reach.Youth should not be in the streets because of the emotional and psychological impact it has on them later on in life. The youth are too young to even think about supporting themselves in society by living on the streets. Being in such destitute situation is not only dangerous but can also be a criminal offense in some areas.To understand the growing necessity to resolve the homeless population, the need to look at the definition, history, causes, the social problems, clinical issues and intervention strategies is essential.
Who they are There is no single definition of the term ‘runaway youth’ or ‘homeless youth’, both groups of youth share the risk of not having adequate shelter and other provisions, and may engage in harmful behaviors while away from a permanent home. These two groups also include “thrownaway” youth who are asked to leave their homes, and may include other vulnerable youth populations, such as current and former foster youth and youth with mental health or other issues. Homeless youth are individuals under age eighteen who lack parental, foster, or institutional care. These youth are often referred to as “unaccompanied” youth (Moore, 2012).”
Demographics. “There is no known number of homeless youth because of their moving from one place to another. Determining the number of these youth is difficult because of the lack of standardized methods and inconsistent definitions of what means to be homeless or a runaway. Estimates of the homeless youth population range from 52,000 to over one million. Estimates of runaway youth — including “thrown away”
Gale Dowling
BSHS 301
June 19, 2012
Rachelle Jackson
Homeless Youth Homeless youth is a rapidly growing problem in society today. There are many types of homeless youth and numerous contributing factors to their unfortunate situation. People need to have compassion toward these youth. These adolescents are the least understood, most vulnerable and most difficult to reach.Youth should not be in the streets because of the emotional and psychological impact it has on them later on in life. The youth are too young to even think about supporting themselves in society by living on the streets. Being in such destitute situation is not only dangerous but can also be a criminal offense in some areas.To understand the growing necessity to resolve the homeless population, the need to look at the definition, history, causes, the social problems, clinical issues and intervention strategies is essential.
Who they are There is no single definition of the term ‘runaway youth’ or ‘homeless youth’, both groups of youth share the risk of not having adequate shelter and other provisions, and may engage in harmful behaviors while away from a permanent home. These two groups also include “thrownaway” youth who are asked to leave their homes, and may include other vulnerable youth populations, such as current and former foster youth and youth with mental health or other issues. Homeless youth are individuals under age eighteen who lack parental, foster, or institutional care. These youth are often referred to as “unaccompanied” youth (Moore, 2012).”
Demographics. “There is no known number of homeless youth because of their moving from one place to another. Determining the number of these youth is difficult because of the lack of standardized methods and inconsistent definitions of what means to be homeless or a runaway. Estimates of the homeless youth population range from 52,000 to over one million. Estimates of runaway youth — including “thrown away”
References: Martin, M. E. (2007). Introduction to Human Services. : Pearson Education Inc. Moore, J. (n.d.). unaccompanied and Homeless youth. Retrieved from http://center.serve.org/nche/downloads/uy_lit_review.pdf National alliance to End Homelessness. (2012). Runaway and Homeless youth: Demographics, Programs, and Emerging Issues. Retrieved from http://www.endhomelessness.org/content/article/detail/1451 National Coalition for the Homeless. (2012). Homeless Youth. Retrieved from http://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/youth.html Transitional Living Program for Homeless Youth. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.benefits.gov/benefits/benefit-details/619