National Homeless Awareness Month (Nov 2002)
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November is National Homelessness Awareness Month. A
particularly invisible and needy segment of the Chicago population is young
people, aged 14-21 who are on their own, or “homeless youth.” Homeless
youth, frequently "couch surf" (live from friend's house to
friend's house), sleep in forest preserves and abandoned buildings, or are
forced to trade sex for shelter.
Youth leave home for a variety of reasons. Abuse (physical, emotional,
and/or sexual), substance abuses by a parent, absence of a parent, and
long-term family economic problems are all common family experiences among
homeless youth. A high number of youth are pregnant and parenting
teens, former state wards, or gay and lesbian youth.
Homeless young people are vulnerable to many dangers. They sometimes cannot
eat a wholesome meal or find a safe place to stay. They are likely
candidates for further physical and sexual victimization. Homeless youth are
likely to be physically coerced into prostitution or engage in it simply as
a means for survival, sometimes within 2 days of being on the streets. The
average age of entry into prostitution is 12-14 for girls and 11-13 for
boys. Homeless youth have high rates of substance abuse, unprotected
sexual activity, and delinquency. Most are not enrolled in or
regularly attend school, and most have limited access to adequate physical
and emotional health care. Although 26,000 young people become homeless in
Illinois each year, few are able to access adequate housing programs. Last
year only 619 youth received services in emergency and transitional housing
programs.
No young person should have to experience the devastating effects of
homelessness. We urge you to learn more about this problem and to support
local agencies that provide programs for young people at risk.
Contact the Child Care Association of Illinois (www.cca-il.org)
or Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (www.chicagohomeless.org)
for further ideas on how you can help.
Sincerely,
Margaret M. Berglind
President/CEO
Child Care Association of Illinois
312-819-1950
John Donahue
Executive Director Chicago Coalition for the Homeless 312-435-4548