Self sufficient youth?

Issue Brief: Homeless Youth

Homelessness does not discriminate. It affects all races, ethnicities, ages, and genders. Homelessness often is defined by living “on the streets”. The reality is homelessness encompasses more. It is the lack of a permanent residence; a place to call home.  In my opinion, every human being deserves a safe and stable place to call home. In 2012, 633,782 people experienced homelessness in the United States (Homeless Research Institute, 2013). Homelessness impacted 162,246 youth in the United States in 2012 (Homeless Research Institute, 2013). Locally, the count of homeless youth in 2012 was 685 in King County and 733 in Snohomish County (Curtin, M., Gibbard, M., Mclendon, H., Mizoguchi, D., & Shaw, M. 2012).

Our youth are some of our most vulnerable populations. Data shows that youth who are without a consistent safe place to live have suffered from sexual abuse, chemical dependency, and are diagnosed with some form of mental illness (Snohomish County Human Services Department, 2012). These individuals are already in need of various services and without access to a secure place to call home, the ability to address additional complex issues becomes difficult.

The causes of homelessness vary. Reasons can be as large as the Economic recession, high housing costs, unemployment, and low paying jobs. Another reason can be as specific as issues of chemical dependency and mental illness. (Dinitto, D & Johnson, D., 2012). Due to the multiple components, the existence of homelessness cannot be attributed to one factor. However, the element that can change is the availability, access, and affordability of housing.

The costs to those who experience homelessness are significant. Without a home, individuals often struggle with maintaining proper health. Issues such as hunger, malnutrition, self care, and hygiene all affect these health concerns. They experience physical ailments; lack of adequate safety, clothing, and lack of access to medical and dental care.

 If youth are unable to have a safe and stable place to call home, their ability to grow up to be self sufficient adults becomes limited. Often these youth will struggle to complete school. Without an address to put on a job application and without a high school education they will struggle to obtain employment and financially survive. This is not just a private issue and does not just affect the single person. Eventually this person will become an adult who may be in need of welfare, perpetuating the cycle of poverty, and perpetuating the need for more tax dollars to be spent.

In order to open the door for other possibilities, availability of housing and fulfilling the basic needs for those who are homeless will need to be addressed.  Ending homelessness will not be an easy task. It may not even be possible because of the complexities it embodies. Its solution is not simple. According to Snohomish counties plan to end homelessness, opportunities for housing needs need to be more present. Alongside with more housing options there is a need to have more career based services that will help an individual be able to attain the self sufficiency needed to maintain housing on their own.

***If you want to make a difference make sure your voice is heard. Call your legislators! If you live in Washington State visit this website to find out who your legislators are and their contact information http://app.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/

If you are curious what it means to be considered self sufficient and standards that  I can support check out this website: http://www.thecalculator.org/

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My references should you want to know more:

Curtin, M., Gibbard, M., Mclendon, H., Mizoguchi, D., & Shaw, M. (2012). Count us in. King County’s point-in-time count of homeless young people [Data file].Retrieved from:  http://www.teenfeed.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Count-Us-In-2012-Preliminary-Report.pdf

DiNitto, D.M. & Johnson, D.H. (2012). Essential of Social Welfare: Politics and Public Policy. Boston, MA: Pearson Education.

Homeless Research Institute. (2013). The state of homelessness in America 2013 [Data file]. Retrieved from http://b.3cdn.net/naeh/bb34a7e4cd84ee985c_3vm6r7cjh.pdf

Human Services Department Snohomish County (2006). Every one at home now. “A strategy to end homelessness by 2016.” http://www.co.snohomish.wa.us/documents/Departments/Human_Services/EveryoneatHomeNow06.pdf

Snohomish County Human Services Department (2012). Snohomish County point in    time count of homelessness in Snohomish County [Data file].. Retrieved from: http://www.housinghope.org/housingIssue/documents/2012PointInTimeReport.pdf