Homeless Youth

Jason Freda Faisal Khan Tracy Moonsammy Lynette Rivera Eric Wang

Introduction

Homeless population in New York City continues to grow.

Young children and Teenagers are most prominently afflicted.

Our action plan to remedy the problem.

Homeless Youth Statistics

Individuals under age 18 who lack parental, foster, or institutional care.

Main problems identified by youth:– Family problems– Economic problems– Financial instability

Consequences

Challenges on the street. Mental and physical problems.

National Runaway Switchboard

Each year The N.R.S. handles more than 115,000 calls from youth and concerned adults who are reaching out for help.

Call Volume Activity in NYC: 6,192

Gender of Caller

Male 24.0%

Female 76.0%

On the Street - Means of Survival

Friends/Relatives 47.7%

Shelters/Soup Kitchens 8.2%

Stealing 1.4%

Prostitution/Sex Industry 2.1%

Selling Drugs 1.0%

Unknown 25.0%

Panhandling 2.2%

Personal Funds 7.3%

Detention/Police 3.0%

Employment 2.1%

Source: www.crisisline.org & www.Nationalhomeless.org

SEE: Homelessness

Teenagers– Lack of housing.– Increased level of abuse.– Increased level of unemployment.

SEE: The “Young Girl”

About 17 years old. “Lived” on street corner (42nd & Madison). “I’m hungry, can someone please provide me

with some food or change?” Our initial observation: A Blank Stare Other people’s reactions: Disgust

SEE: “Shauna”

“Lives” at Open Door Drop-In Center, NYC.

20 years old. Originally from Indianapolis. Parents:

– Mother: Drug Addict– Father: In Prison

“I’m no different than anyone else, all I want is a chance.”

SEE: Conclusion

Society may never understand homeless people and the obstacles they face.

Our overwhelmingly fast-paced society leads people to react to homeless with a lack of compassion.

Homelessness continues to grow.

JUDGE: Outlook on the Homeless

Individuals tend to:– Look down upon them.– View them as “worthless.”– See the individual’s problem as self inflicted.– Generalize them.

Two Tangible Models:– The Celebrity– The Typical Citizen

JUDGE: Commodity Form Reaction

“The Celebrity” and their assumed characteristics.

Modeling of human behavior as related to worth.

People seen as things. Production, Marketing,

Consuming, Value. Exteriority

JUDGE: Personal Form Reaction

The “Typical Citizen” and their assumed characteristics.

People are irreplaceable.

Religious basis. “Do Unto Others”

JUDGE: Conclusion

Both are prevalent. Based on background and upbringing. Society and media trend toward Commodity

Form. Family values and religion move toward

Personal Form.

ACT: Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD)

D.Y.C.D. Services– Crisis Shelters– Interim Family Program– Transitional Independent Living Programs– Drop-In Center Program– RHY Street Outreach and Referral Service

Program

ACT: Covenant House

Outreach Nineline Hotline 1-800-999-9999. Right’s of Passage. Community Service Centers. Programs:

– Substance Abuse Programs – Help for youths addicted to alcohol or drugs– Mother/Child Program – Provides special care for pregnant and parenting

young women– Aftercare Program – Provides vital additional support to young people after

they leave Covenant House

ACT: Covenant House Statistics

Break down by Age

Breakdown by Culture

Breakdown by Gender

ACT: Action Plan

More funding. Early-age awareness building. Better advertising, public service

announcements. Better education for adults. More community involvement. Better cooperation between agencies. Long-term planning.

Questions? Comments?