the unwanted
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The Unwanted. Helping Utah’s Homeless Youth. The Fact is…. It’s been estimated that there are between 7,000 and 21,000 homeless youth (ages 16-25) in Utah. Nationwide, 1 in 8 teens will leave home before the age of 18. 40% will never return home. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
THE UNWANTEDHelping Utah’s Homeless Youth
The Fact is…• It’s been estimated that there are between 7,000
and 21,000 homeless youth (ages 16-25) in Utah.• Nationwide, 1 in 8 teens will leave home before the
age of 18. 40% will never return home.• Every year in the United States, 5,000 street-bound
youth die of physical assault, illness, or suicide.
Life on the Streets Easy targets for rape and physical assault Often resort to “survival sex” STI’s are rampant and usually go untreated Teens who live in shelters are homeless for an
average of 4 months. Teens who do not get help from shelters stay
homeless for an average of 4 years
Reasons for Teen Homelessness
40% are GLBT Kicked out for delinquency Ran away because of abuse Aging out of foster care
http://uthomelessyouth.wordpress.com/
Just Imagine… What if it was your son? What if it was your daughter? What if it was your niece? What if it was your nephew?
The illness is spreading like wildfire
We must take off our rose-colored glasses, look this beast in the eye and refuse to back down.
Only then can we stand up and defend not only the current victims of learned criminal behavior, but all the future teens that stand at risk to fall into its trap.
Every Day a homeless teen will make a choice…
To find help To get an education To fight for a better life
OR To have unprotected sex for money To look for “Family” in gangs and drug
communities
We have an opportunity 2,973 people died in the tragedy on September
11,2001. How many family members would have saved them given the chance?
We have a temporary chance to give 21,000 homeless youth an opportunity those victims never had. A second chance.
Try Family Counseling. If unsuccessful, other options would be to stay with relatives or foster care.
Solutions:
Train youth to go out on the street with outreach workers to convince them to enter the system
Working towards Independent Housing
From this
To this:
Seeking Benefits
Social Security Income Medicaid
For those with a mental health issues, Alliance House offers educational and vocational support
Homeless Youth Supply Drive
You can drop off the following items: deodorant, bus tokens, canned food, gently used clothing, fast food gift cards, new socks, batteries, tents, tarps, sleeping bags.
Items will be taken to The Homeless Youth Drop In Center @ 655 S. StateDrop off boxes will be located at various places at South City SLCC this summer