Youth Homelessness is a national Crisis! This is of great concern to our organization and we will make every attempt to restore these youths back to safety. We work closely with the Brunswick County Schools social workers via the Mckinney-Vento Homeless Education Act, in hopes of meeting the needs of the homeless youths attempting to finish school.
Children and youth in homeless situations often do not fit society's stereotypical images. For example, many children who are homeless are very young; in fact, 50% of children living in homeless shelters are under the age of five. In addition, emergency shelters in urban areas cannot meet the rising need for temporary housing, turning away many. Rural areas often have no shelters at all.
As a result of the lack of shelter, most students in homeless situations share housing with friends or relatives, stay in abandoned cars, live on the streets, abandoned buildings, in the woods and campgrounds.
Homeless youth are individuals under the age of 18 who lack parental, foster or institutional care. They are sometimes referred to as "unaccompanied" youth. Consider the following facts:
2.9 million teens run away from home each year in the U.S.
1.8 million youth have slept on the streets in the last 12 months
12-17 year olds are at more risk of homelessness that adults.
1/3 of homeless youth are lured into prostitution within 48 hrs. of leaving home
Homeless teens are 5-6 times more likely to be raped or assaulted than other teens
Homeless youth are 20 times more likely to use crack cocaine
42% of homeless youth have attempted suicide at least once
56% of homeless youth report being physically abused
2/3 of homeless youth have witnessed a stabbing, shooting, rape or murder
Almost 2/3 of homeless youth have witnessed domestic violence
The prevalence rate for substance use disorders among homeless youth are 85%
District Homeless Liason Brunswick County Schools
Joyce M. Beatty (910) 253-2900 Ext. 1043
National Runaway Switchboard
www.1800runaway.org
National Safe Place
www.nationalsafeplace.org
National Network for youth
www.nn4youth.org
Brunswick County Social Services
(910) 253-2077
Providence Home
(910) 457-0440 - Southport
If you are a runaway youth in crisis and need immediate assistance, please text the word SAFE and your current location (address, city) to 69866. You will receive a message with the closest Safe Place location, youth shelter or the National Runaway Switchboard hotline number (1-800-Runaway). Reply with “2chat” to text interactively with a mental health professional for more help.
