WELCOME

Stephen Love – Program Coordinator LCCNeil Hemmer

HOMESTRETCHFilm Screening & Discussion

Wednesday, 12:30-2Wojcik Auditorium

"This film deftly, courageously and respectfully illustrates the complexity of the issues resulting in over one million young people experiencing homelessness every year in this country.” Paul W. Hamann, President & CEO, The Night Ministry.

NATIONAL HUNGER AND HOMELESSNESS AWARENESS WEEK

Join Us for a presentation, film & discussion on the current issue of Youth

Homelessness, featuring the award-winning film ‘Homestretch’ and The Night Ministry

organization.

HOMELESS IS A SITUATION. IT’S NOT WHO YOU ARE.

Hosted by the Human Services Club & Student Involvement, in partnership with The Night Ministry, www.thenightministry.org. Contact HMS@harpercollege.edu for information.

Facts about Poverty

The Picture of Families who are Homeless - Causes

• Lack of affordable housing –According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, the United States is facing increasing rents, stagnating wages, and an extreme shortage of affordable housing. For every 100 extremely low-income renters, there are just 31 affordable units.

• Extreme poverty – In 2009, 17% of all American families with two parents and 34% of all single-parent families lived below the poverty line. Many families do not earn adequate wages, with one-fifth of all US jobs not paying enough to keep a family of four out of poverty. Families need an income twice as high as the Federal Poverty Level, on average, to meet their most basic needs.

• Domestic violence

The Picture of Veterans

Approximately 144,000 veterans are homeless on any given night according to the US Department of Veteran Affairs (VA). Within this number, the amount of female Iraq and Afghanistan veterans experiencing homelessness is increasing, as is the number who have dependent children.

Homelessness and Trauma• The SHIFT (Service and Housing for Families in Transition) study examined

outcomes among families in emergency shelters, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing programs.

• 79% of mothers in the study were traumatized as children, most commonly traumatic events involved interpersonal violence, including physical assaults and sexual abuse.

• More than two-thirds had been physically assaulted in adulthood, and half had been sexually abused as children. Additionally, half met the criteria for PTSD. At 30 months, this rate decreased to 40%.

• Study findings indicate that trauma, depression, and substance abuse can co-occur for homeless mothers compromising their ability to form safe and trusting relationships, work consistently and parent effectively.

Youth Homelessness

•between 1 million and 1.7 million homeless youth who have runaway or have been asked to leave their homes.   •61.8% of homeless youth reported depression, 71.7% reported experiencing major trauma such as physical or sexual abuse, 79.5% experienced symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder for more than a month. •25% of former foster youth became homeless 2.5-4 years after exiting care.  •5% to 7% of American youths become homeless in any given year•Homeless youth are evenly male-female, although females are more likely to seek help through shelters and hotlines. •between 6% and 22% of homeless girls are estimated to be pregnant. •75% of homeless or runaway youth have dropped out or will drop out of school •Between 20% and 40% of homeless youth identify as LGBT.

The Picture of Homelessness and the LGBTQ Community

• LGBT persons face social stigma, discrimination, and often rejection by their families, which adds to the physical and mental strains/challenges that all homelessness persons must struggle with.

• LGBT individuals experiencing homelessness are often at a heightened risk of violence, abuse, and exploitation compared with their heterosexual peers.

• Transgender people are particularly at physical risk due to a lack of acceptance and are often turned away from shelters.

• 40% of the homeless youth served by agencies identify as LGBT• 43% of clients served by drop-in centers identified as LGBT• 30% of street outreach clients identified as LGBT• 30% of clients utilizing housing programs identified as LGBT

The Picture of Youth Homelessness

The Night Ministry

Discussion

Social Action and Volunteering

• National Coalition for the Homeless, www.nationalhomeless.org

• Northwest Suburbs Organizing for Action, www.nwsofa.org

• North Suburban Alliance to End Homelessness, www.suburbancook.org

• PADS Journeys to Hope, www.journeystheroadhome.org

• The Night Ministry, www.thenightministry.org