Mentor a Youth Group to Help Homeless Teens

Teenage homelessness is a larger problem than many of us realize: One out of every seven youth will run away from home before their 18^th birthday. Nearly half of these runaways say that they had been physically abused before running away from home, and about a third were victims of forced sexual activity. While day-to-day survival on the streets can be harsh, many homeless teens find this existence preferable to the abusive environment they left.

Other homeless teens were forced out of their homes by parents who couldn't handle them anymore. These "throwaway teens" take to the streets feeling unwanted and uncared for. They quit school and move to the busy sidewalks and parks of larger cities, where most eventually abuse drugs or alcohol, become even more detached, and acquire an overwhelming sense of resentment towards society. Many of these youth become violent — or victims of violent crimes.

There is a misconception that homeless kids can easily take control of their lives by getting a job or returning home. In fact, minimum wages in the United States are usually too low to get a homeless person off the streets. A homeless teen's lack of maturity and work experience usually means finding a job is unlikely anyway. Going home means returning to an abusive or otherwise intolerable situation — not considered an option by most runaways.

Outreach programs all over the nation have begun to address the needs of this hidden population of homeless youth. According to a Stanford study of California Bay Area homeless teens, the availability of shelters for homeless children makes a striking difference in their quality of life. While virtually none of the homeless kids they interviewed expressed any interest in returning home, most were interested in "help with no strings attached." On their wish lists were things like a place to sleep, regular meals, showers, job training, and medical care.

Given their previous interactions with adults, homeless teens are often not eager to trust others, even those with the best intentions. Many outreach organizations have found that homeless teens are more receptive to efforts from others their own age. With the help of caring mentors, youth groups and teen clubs can assist in outreach endeavors. When you mentor a youth group to help homeless teens, you not only help runaways to find safety and hope, you empower youth volunteers with the confidence that they can make a difference.

The first step to mentoring youth groups in their efforts to help homeless teens is to understand the key issues surrounding homelessness and the causes and characteristics of homeless youth. Fundamental Issues to Prevent and End Youth Homelessness contains the "Ten Essentials Your Community Needs to Prevent and End Youth Homelessness," designed by the National Partnership to End Youth Homelessness.

You can also download educational materials about homelessness. In addition, you can direct kids to explore Youth Noise, a teen-oriented website that promotes community activism. Here, they'll learn about homeless kids and what other kids are doing about it.

As a youth group mentor, you might also want to get additional downloadable tools and hands-on publications designed to assist youth leaders. Through these free publications, you will learn how to effectively help kids who want to make a difference through civic activism. Youth group resources are available at the Innovation Center for Community and Youth Development.

If you have a church or community youth group to work with, it's time to get started! If not, find a youth group in your local community and volunteer. You might also work with your own teenagers and a group of their friends. If you are a teacher or associated with teens through a school, find out if there is a Stand Up for Kids Club chapter in your area and get your kids involved. Stand Up for Kids is a nationally acclaimed outreach organization dedicated to the rescue of homeless and street kids. Their outreach programs consist of Stand Up for Kids clubs in high schools and colleges that support local programs through service projects and collection drives.