[Class title]
Introduction
Youth homelessness is a general term that refers to vagrancy that affects a homogenous youth population. This population includes “unaccompanied youth, runaways, throwaways, street youth, and systems youth” (Moore 2). Homelessness is an age-old social problem that has plagued most modern societies. In the United States, the problem regarding youth homelessness can be traced as far back as the earliest history of the country; back when the first Europeans settled in the New World. According to Moore, an expert affiliated with the National Center for Homeless Education, youth homelessness has been existent while the country was being settled and expanding westward as “adolescents struck out on their own seeking adventure and economic opportunity” (Moore 1). The problem further exacerbated during the industrial revolution when waves of youth immigrants flocked towards American cities in search of employment (Hirschman & Mogford). Today, youth homelessness is still an ongoing social problem and is present in every society, most especially in major cities. According to statistics, there are at least 1.3 million homeless youth that are living in the streets; in abandoned buildings; with friends or with strangers. Most of these youths are victims of physical, mental and sexual abuse while many are compelled to become delinquents and engage in criminal activities such as stealing in order to survive. In the face of this recurring problem, several initiatives can be can be adopted in order to curb its prevalence and to remedy the present scenario of youth homelessness.
Current Programs of Homeless Youths
Although the problem of youth homelessness has spanned over the entire history of the United States as a nation, serious efforts to address this social problem did not come until the 1970s when Congress enacted the Runaway Youth Act of 1974. Under this act, the government pursued a major initiative pertaining to homeless youths by creating the federal Runaway and Homeless Youth Program (RHYP). Since its establishment in 1970s, the RHYP has been constantly expanding and is currently supporting three major programs. One of which is the Basic Center Program that provides temporary shelter and counseling services to homeless kids under 18 years old and their families; the Transitional Living Program that provides long term shelter and supportive services to homeless youths that are aged between 16 and 18; and the Street Outreach Program that targets youths who are at risk of being sexually abused. Aside from the government, there is also non-government organizations that help homeless youths find shelter and live fulfilling lives. Many of these NGOs are religious organizations whose charity work centers on sheltering and supporting orphans and runaways.
Addressing the Root of the Problem
Current programs that address youth homelessness are already comprehensive; however, there are still plenty of rooms for improvements. RHYP, for instance, can remedy the homelessness of youths in terms of shelter and support services, but it does not have a proactive program on how to prevent youth homelessness. To compensate for current government initiatives, it is recommended that a proactive program should be initiated that would focus on preventive measures. The government, for instance, could create community-based social workers who will collaborate with the community’s social institutions in identifying children that are at risk of becoming homeless. Identifying factors may include children who are not performing well in school or those children whose families have records of domestic violence. Children from dysfunctional families are those who are at higher risk of being homeless. Studies, for instance, shows that “6 percent of runaway and homeless youth reported being physically abused, 38 percent reported being emotionally abused , and 17 percent reported being forced into unwanted sexual activity by a family or household member”. Broken families are also red flags when it comes to being a source of potential youth runaways. In the United States, divorce is a common occurrence. According to statistics, around 12 percent of American children under the age of 18 are being raised by single parents (Demo & Acock). Consistent with social disorganization theories, social scientists believe that the breakdown of the family, as an important social institution, pushes children towards the streets (Wood & Alleyne 102).
Conclusion
Homelessness among the youth is an ongoing problem that could not be totally eradicated. However, certain measures can still be initiated that would curb its prevalence. The government is already working on comprehensive programs that would address youth homelessness by providing them temporary shelter and support services. However, a closer look on such programs would reveal that it focuses more on remedying the situation, yet less in preventive measures. It is, therefore, recommended that the government should also focus its attention on developing a program that would proactively identify at-risk youths by working closely with social institutions such as the educational and law enforcement sectors of the community. The rationality behind such initiative is that it would prevent children from being exposed to the harsh realities of being homeless before being rescued. Hypothetically, it would take more resources to rescue an already homeless youth as compared to the resources needed to prevent such scenario from happening.
Works Cited
Demo, D., & Acock, A. The Impact of Divorce on Children. 1988. April 2015 <http://libres.uncg.edu/ir/uncg/f/d_demo_impact_1988.pdf>.
Fernandes-Alcantara, A. Runaway and Homeless Youth: Demographics and Programs . 2013. June 2016 <http://www.nchcw.org/uploads/7/5/3/3/7533556/crs_2013_rhya_history_and_lit_review.pdf>.
Hirschman, C., & Mogford, L. "Immigrants and Industrialization in the United States, 1880 to 1920 ." November 2006. csde.washington.edu. July 2014 <https://csde.washington.edu/news/docs/Immigrants_Industrialization_Dec2006.pdf>.
Moore, J. Unaccompanied and Homeless Youth Review of Literature (1995-2005). n.d. June 2016 <http://center.serve.org/nche/downloads/uy_lit_review.pdf>.
National Conference of State Legislature. HOMELESS AND RUNAWAY YOUTH. Aril 2016. June 2016 <http://www.ncsl.org/research/human-services/homeless-and-runaway-youth.aspx>.
Wood, J., & Alleyne, E. Street gang theory and research: Where are we now and where do we go from here? 2010. January 2016 <http://www.goccp.maryland.gov/msac/documents/gang-studies/gang-involvement-theory/Wood-Alleyne-2010.pdf>.
