November is Youth Homelessness, Outreach, Prevention, and Education (HOPE) Month, a public awareness campaign that shines a light on youth homelessness, educates the public about the role they can play in preventing and ending youth homelessness, and increases the visibility of the critical services offered to vulnerable youth nationwide. Hundreds of organizations, Ambassadors, companies, and individuals join together throughout the month, participating in national events, such as Wear Green Day, that are organized by the National Runaway Safeline, posting on social media, and executing events and activities locally, all in an effort to amplify the challenges vulnerable youth face each day and provide them with support and hope.
Why do we need to spread awareness?
Youth Homelessness According to Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, approximately 4.2 million young people ages 13 to 25 experience some sort of homelessness in the United States each year, with considerably more experiencing crises that put them at risk of facing similar housing insecurity. Once a young person faces the instability associated with homelessness, whether they are couch surfing, staying in shelters, or sleeping on the streets, the consequences can be far-reaching.
How can we prevent and end youth homelessness?
While public and private entities continue to collaborate on how to address youth homelessness, there is still much work to do. As shared by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the longer young people experience housing instability, the more likely they are to face greater levels of adversity and traumatic experiences, with implications for their long-term well-being. Evidence suggests that youth homelessness is preventable and can be addressed effectively by policymakers, funders, service providers, and communities through interventions that capitalize upon young people’s strengths and deliver the types and levels of support they need. Increasing funding targeted to prevention and improving risk screening and early intervention models can reduce the number of young people exposed to homelessness and its compounding trauma on the individual.
How can I help?
If it seems your child or a young person you know may be thinking about leaving home or has threatened to do so, talk with them about the issues and their options. Frequently, youth contemplating leaving their homes overlook essential considerations, such as securing accommodations, ensuring access to fundamental necessities like sustenance, clothing, and transportation, maintaining their educational commitments, and assessing potential risks. Furthermore, they may be unaware of the available avenues for ameliorating their circumstances. If your child or a young person you know has run away, contact your local police department and organizations, such as the National Runaway Safeline or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, for additional support and guidance. It is critical that youth experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness are connected to resources that can help them find stable housing, access various supports, develop a plan, or reunite safely with their families. Making resources available to young people in crisis and the people who care about them can help prevent a crisis from escalating or mitigate its impact.
Resources:
National Runaway Safeline. The National Runaway Safeline (NRS) is a national non-profit organization committed to keeping runaway, homeless, and at-risk youth safe and off the streets. Founded in 1971, NRS serves as the home for the federally supported National Communication System (NCS) and crisis line for youth and families, providing critical crisis intervention 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Each year, NRS makes hundreds of thousands of connections to help and hope through hotline (1-800-RUNAWAY), online (1800RUNAWAY.org), and prevention services. LEARN MORE AT 1800RUNAWAY.ORG
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline) provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the United States. The Lifeline is comprised of a national network of over 200 local crisis centers, combining custom, local care, and resources with national standards and best practices. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is administered by Vibrant Emotional Health and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). LEARN MORE AT 988LIFELINE.ORG
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. (NCMEC) The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s mission is to help find missing children, reduce child sexual exploitation, and prevent child victimization. NCMEC works with families, victims, private industry, law enforcement, and the public to assist with preventing child abductions, recovering missing children, and providing services to deter and combat child sexual exploitation. LEARN MORE AT MISSINGKIDS.ORG 1800RUNAWAY.org/HOPE
National Domestic Violence Hotline. 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the National Domestic Violence Hotline provides essential tools and support to help survivors of domestic violence so they can live their lives free of abuse. Contacts to The Hotline can expect highly trained advocates to offer free, confidential, and compassionate support, crisis intervention information, education, and referral services in over 200 languages. LEARN MORE AT THEHOTLINE.ORG
National Safe Place Safe Place. This is a national youth outreach and prevention program for young people under the age of 18 (up to 21 years of age in some communities) in need of immediate help and safety. As a collaborative community prevention initiative, Safe Place designates businesses and organizations as Safe Place locations, making help readily available to youth in communities across the country. Safe Place locations include libraries, YMCAs, fire stations, public buses, various businesses, and social service facilities. LEARN MORE AT NATIONALSAFEPLACE.ORG
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