Homelessness Among Youth of United states, Maryland and Baltimore city

URBAN YOUTH PROBLEM

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

INTRODUCTION
Homeless youth are the individuals who are under eighteen years of age and lack
institutional and parental care. Present study will discuss prevalence of homelessness among
youth of United states, Maryland and Baltimore city. It will describe current statistics on the
occurrence of that particular problem.
MAIN BODY
Homeless is the serious issue among youth in United States. Every year number of homeless
youngsters are increasing in nation. Family, economic condition and residential instability are
main causes of rising integer of dispossessed youth. It is also fact that many of female or male
those who suffer from physical or sexual abuse, get neglected by their family and they have to
live a homeless life (Lewis, 2016). Statistics show that there are 46% runaway young people
those who have suffered from physical abuse and there are 17% teenagers who were forced by
their own family members for sexual activity.
Maryland is the destination where number of homeless youth is increasing at fast pace.
Maryland state department of education has clearly stated that from 2007 to 2008 there is 80%
increment in homeless population. These are the individuals who are disconnected from society
and are at high risk of sexual abuse. However, in Baltimore city almost 2289 students are
dispossessed (Uncounted and discounted: Homeless youth in Baltimore city, 2008). As per the
report of Baltimore homeless youth initiative it is found that there are 166 homeless young adults
of age between 18 to24. Further, from the report it has been determined that 38% adolescent
have experienced emotional abuse and 17% were engaged in unwanted sexual abuse activities.
In the year 2002, national report of US department of Justice published in which it was
reflected that there are 1682900 homeless and runaway youth (Giroux, 2015). Majority of
persons are between of age 15 to17. National network of runaway and youth service report
clearly states that most of the homeless adolescents are lesbian, gay or transgender. There are
6%-22% female teenagers those who get pregnant in early age which is one of the major cause of
homelessness (Flores, 2018).
National report shows that Homeless youth has to face huge consequences and the
individuals live under huge stress. (Nakaoka, 2014). Previous statistic shows that there are 5%
evicted adolescence who are suffering from HIV but recent report of San Francisco reflects that
there are 17% children are HIV positive. Homeless Youth are at high risk of sexual abuse.
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Furthermore, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem is another issues faced by such kind of
adolescents. They face huge stress in their life as they do not get support from family which
increases traumatic stress syndrome among them (Current Statistics on the Prevalence and
Characteristics of People Experiencing Homelessness in the United States, 2011).
Homeless youth face challenges in completing their education and getting financial help.
National runaway switchboard has estimated that there are approx 1.3 million teenagers who
have no support of family (Homeless Youth, 2008). Statistical records show that there are 5000
unaccompanied adolescences who died because of chronic illness, which occurred in them due to
poor diet, excessive use of harmful substances and contaminated food intake. Approx 75%
runaway teenagers are female and 20-40% homeless youth are transgender.
In the year 2015, it is found that majority of youth those who belong from African
Americans experience homeless situation where two third of youth were black Americans. There
were 23% young adults who have been found with LGBTQ community (Lesbian, Gay, bisexual,
transgender). Baltimore city is continuously working for improving life of homeless young
adults and therefore offering them private funding facilities. First emergency shelter house was
opened in Baltimore city for adolescence (Maryland Youth Count 2017, 2017).
Demographic breakdown is done on the bases of race, religion and socioeconomic elements.
According to these components, US department of housing and urban development has
published report in the year 2010 and it highlighted that there are 407966 individuals who have
no facility of shelter and 109812 persons are chronically homeless. 21.8% people are under the
age 18, majority of youth are male. Furthermore, report states that 41.6% people belong from
white community, Non- Hispanic. 4.5% dispossessed adolescence are single and 7.2% are
multiple races. In 2007, 1.6 million youth have been recorded homeless. 1996 data of NSHAPC
found that there are 12% youth those who are under 17-24 age and experiencing destitute
situation (Lewis, 2016).
Statistical record of urban service department shows that there are high number of
lesbians who are experiencing this issue and 59% homeless adolescent who are suffering from
PTSD (Post- traumatic stress disorder). They are forced to have sex with multiple partners who
have increased chances of suffering from AIDS. Many of adolescence undergo severe stress and
they attempt suicide as well.
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State has adopted and implemented policies that can protect homeless young. These
regulations are helpful in addressing educational needs of these people and provide them place to
stay with safety (Giroux, 2015). There are many other programs have been organised by national
government, in which they get counselling so that they can recover from their trauma. The
Runaway and Homeless Youth Act has been designed by federal government in order to protect
lives of these young children. This program supports in providing opportunity to homeless youth
of Maryland by providing funds for their welfare and managing a secure life. Furthermore, there
is “Helping America’s Youth” policy which have been designed to improve condition of such
young adults.
CONCLUSION
From the above study it can be concluded that number of homeless youth are increasing in
US. Family instability and demographic behaviour of individual is the main causes of prevalence
of such condition. Education, counselling is the best way through which authorities can provide
homeless youth safe environment and foster care.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Flores, C. A. (2018). Young at Heart: Advocating a Rhetorical Theory for Youth in the Public
Sphere (Doctoral dissertation, Arizona State University).
Giroux, H. A. (2015). Youth in revolt: Reclaiming a democratic future. Routledge.
Lewis, M. A. (2016). Parental input: Exploring intergenerational transmission of trauma in first
generation Somali young men (Doctoral dissertation, Alliant International University).
Nakaoka, S. J. K. (2014). Asian American/Pacific Islander Community Development
Corporations and the Just City: The Relevance of a Race-Conscious Approach.
University of California, Los Angeles.
Online
Current Statistics on the Prevalence and Characteristics of People Experiencing Homelessness
in the United States. 2011. [Online]. Available through <
https://www.samhsa.gov/sites/default/files/programs_campaigns/homelessness_programs
_resources/hrc-factsheet-current-statistics-prevalence-characteristics-homelessness.pdf >
Homeless Youth. 2008. [Online]. Available through <
https://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/youth.pdf >
Maryland Youth Count 2017. 2017. [Online]. Available through <
http://www.hprplaw.org/penn_station/folders/end_homelessness/campaigns_and_policy_
priorities/ending_youth_homelessness_act_of_2018/YRMD-2017-Report-Executive-
Summary-FINAL.pdf >
Uncounted and discounted: Homeless youth in Baltimore city. 2008. [Online]. Available through
<https://www.jhsph.edu/research/centers-and-institutes/center-for-adolescent-health/
_docs/policy
briefs/Homeless_Youth_Uncounted_and_Disconnected_2_pager_final_22508.pdf >
Youth homeless. 2018. [Online]. Available through < http://goc.maryland.gov/homelessness/>
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