Mo'Asia Ferrell
Teen homelessness is a major issue in today’s society. Teens are left with nowhere to go, house-to house, friends couches, etc. due to a variety of reasons. This issue affects teens, parents, communities within which teens reside, their peers, and teachers (people the teens interact with) at their highschool. Often, the cause of teen homelessness ranges from teens who are under bad influences from friends, teens who undergo mental health problems, family issues, abuse, drugs, and no support in their day-to-day life. This is a significant issue in Rochester communities. I just went through this struggle myself; you’d be surprised at the amount of teens this issue affects. Teens do not have the same privileges as 18+ so they need additional help/support with these types of issues. Also, their safety is at risk being out in the streets/community with no help. We need to create housing options for them, schools need a crisis response plan if they are aware of a student being homeless, and we need to increase employment opportunities for teens. https://endhomelessness.org/ending-homelessness/solutions/ Four different runaway and homeless youth (RHY) program models are granted operating certificates by the state of New York. Every one of them responds to various needs. Each county has a wide variety of initiatives in operation. Crisis service programs and the Transitional Independent Living Support Program (TILP) are two program concepts in Monroe County. Runaway kids under the age of 18 or between the ages of 16 and 21, or up to 25 in some towns, are given temporary shelter through RHY crisis services programs. When necessary, the objective of residential RHY crisis care programs is to support a youth's safe reunification with their guardians. Two different categories of crisis services programs exist: Refuge for Runaways and Homeless Kids These initiatives, often known as "crisis shelters" or "youth shelters," provide up to 20 young people with temporary emergency lodging. Youth can often participate in these programs for up to 30 days, but under some conditions they can last up to 120 days. Family Program Interim Interim Family Homes offer temporary emergency refuge for up to two youth in a person's or family's home with additional space to share. Homes may provide housing for young people up to the age of 21, or up to the age of 25 in some towns. Interim Family Programs that hold an OCFS license oversee and inspect Interim Family Homes. Local organizations with experience in RHY needs and development are Interim Family Programs. They make sure that the adolescents who are in the Temporary Family Homes they sponsor have safe and suitable living conditions. TILPs are residential programs that offer homeless teenagers between the ages of 16 and 21, or up to 25 in some communities, longer-term residence. These initiatives are made to help homeless youth move from a state of crisis to independent life. TILPs come in two varieties: Supported Housing: Assisted residences offer a setting that simulates independent living (often an apartment) for up to five homeless teenagers who are the same gender and between the ages of 16 and 21 (or up to 25 in some towns). Group Housing: For a maximum of 20 homeless children between the ages of 16 and 21 (or up to 25 in some towns), group houses offer an atmosphere that promotes the development and practice of independent living skills. In Monroe County specifically we have a variety of programs centered around our youth. Containing the center for youth. They have different programs that subside to different groups of people as well. Including The Transitional Living Program, New Beginning House program, The Arnett House for LGBTQ youth, and Host Homes program. Each program serves the needs of different people. Kids who are homeless or living in insecure conditions can receive case management and/or housing services from The Center for Youth's Transitional Living Program (TLP). The program's objective is to assist young people, aged 16 to 21, in developing self-reliance and settling into secure housing. The Center welcomes all young people and works to offer services that are considerate of the diverse cultural, racial, religious, and LGBT identities that young people represent. Included in TLP are: Chrysalis House Young ladies who might be pregnant or have children for up to 18 months can live in a lovely setting at The Chrysalis House. Six mothers can be served by the program, and there are two more beds available for young women who are pregnant or without children. We support each woman as she evaluates her needs and creates a strategy to achieve her self-sufficiency objectives. The locals actively participate in looking for educational options, career opportunities, and work opportunities. Under the direction and support of a committed and compassionate staff, young women can make life-changing decisions that benefit both themselves and their children at Chrysalis House. For both young men and women, the Transitional Living Program residences offer a safe place to live. Every resident creates goals and implements a strategy to become independent. Residents take training on life skills and meet with their case managers once a week. In order to set and accomplish goals for independence, young people in non-residential TLP meet with their case managers twice a month. In order to offer housing and all-encompassing services to young men who may have been homeless or cut off from conventional supports, the Center opened the New Beginning House in 2015. The independent living facility supports people in their efforts to become self-sufficient while fostering enduring ties to their families and the community. Those they serve: Six young males, ages 18 to 21, are housed in the multi-unit building, two in each apartment. The young men are completing their secondary education or vocational training, getting ready for their Test Assessing Secondary Completion (formerly the GED), and/or looking for work. Most young men will stay for up to six months but will have the opportunity to stay longer if they are in the process of finishing high school. Outcomes of this program include preparing young men to live on their own, re-engaging them in the community and empowering them to make healthy, educated life choices. The Center for Youth offers referral services, advocacy, temporary and permanent housing, emergency shelters, and more. And, as they have done for more than 45 years, they support their LGBTQ youth, providing a strong foundation for each young person to succeed. The Arnett House will soon open its doors, serving as a place of residence and support for homeless LGBTQ and trafficked adolescents. After being substantially renovated, the house was donated to The Center for Youth in 2018 and can now offer uninterrupted care to residents around-the-clock, every day of the year. To consistently and positively shelter adolescents, The Center for Youth relies on a variety of grants, foundations, businesses, private contributors, and special events. The By Their Side campaign aims to raise awareness and money to build a refuge specifically for LGBTQ adolescents and those who have been commercially sex trafficked. The Center is able to provide enough housing, coordination, and overall safety for our city's most vulnerable residents because of the financial support of our local community. Youth who identify as LGBTQ are extremely susceptible to housing disparities. Up to 1.6 million young people in America are homeless each year. LGBTQ individuals make about 40% of all young persons facing homelessness. These figures are abnormally high given that LBGT adolescents make up an estimated 7% of the general youth population. LGBTQ people have a 120% increased risk of being homeless. While homeless LGBTQ youth share some needs with their non-LGBTQ peers, they also have needs unique to their identities. The Host House Program is made up of persons or families who offer young pregnant or parenting people in our community, aged 16 to 22, a home-based emergency and/or longer-term housing option. The Host Houses guarantee that homeless youth have access to a licensed, voluntary home environment, high-quality crisis childcare services, academic support, and workforce development training - all under one roof. They are also connected to the wider continuum of Center for Youth Services. Two Different Forms of Host-Home Services - Urgent host meaning short-term emergency beds available for stays as short as one night and as long as 14 days. Longer-term Host meaning this is a longer-term hosting model for a young person who is pregnant or parenting. The only transitional housing program for homeless teen moms in our area, Chrysalis House, is run by CYS. In order to provide pregnant and parenting homeless young mothers with the support, direction, and opportunities they require to develop self-assurance in order to construct healthy, successful lives, the Maternity Group Home Program (MGH), a 6-bed group home and Case Management model, was established. While the Center for Youth was founded in 1971 when a group of Brighton High School students had the notion to establish a "center" that would cater to the particular needs of young people in Rochester, New York. The underlying premise of the project was rather novel for its time: young people could make their own wise life decisions if they were given the right information and encouragement. The Center was established as a resource for and by youth. This remains the guiding philosophy at The Center for Youth. They are dedicated to enhancing the voices of vulnerable youth while empowering and advocating for them. Their goal is to offer comprehensive programs in a fully private, voluntary, and free manner. The salvation army's Genesis house is another initiative that is specifically for young people in Monroe County. Genesis House was built by the Rochester Salvation Army in 1981 as a temporary shelter for homeless and runaway children between the ages of 16 and 20. Genesis House provides teenagers and young adults with food, shelter, and guidance to help them break the cycle of homelessness as the only emergency shelter in Monroe County that treats people ages 18 to 20 as adolescents. Caseworkers discuss the narratives of Sammy and Sean. Sean - According to the Salvation Army (2015), Sean arrived at Genesis House carrying a lot of weight and not knowing what his future held. He related the tale of his fractured family and cruel stepfather. Sean was diagnosed with cognitive impairment and depression. He disclosed to the staff that his stepfather had taken him out of school and informed the administrators that he would be homeschooled when establishing goals and a case management plan. Case managers got to work right away with Sean to create plans for the future and support him in achieving his objectives. The first step was to find accommodation, and Sean's case manager started looking for assisted living programs that he could enroll in to help him acquire the skills he needs to become independent. His case managers also connected him to family home care services so that he could live with a family until a spot in a residential or supportive living program became available because there was a considerable queue for these programs. The second objective was to locate a doctor, therapist, or psychiatrist, as well as to get his vital records. Sean needed all of these things in order to register for both family care services and school. Case management made every effort to engage with nearby organizations to get him the care he required. Sean's third objective was to return to school and earn his GED. He was able to relocate with his foster family and began his GED program at the Office of Adult & Vocational Education Services (OACES). Sean's departure from Genesis House was bittersweet because, despite the staff's happiness for him and his accomplishments, they will genuinely miss him and the joy he gave to their workplace. Sammy - The Salvation Army (2015) retold the story of Sammy who was a young man who had previously participated in the Genesis House program a few times. In December 2014, he rejoined us once more. He had previously failed to accomplish his objectives and to take advantage of the opportunities presented to him for a better life. But this time, Sammy vowed that he had his priorities in order and was prepared to move out on his own. By the end of January 2015, Sammy successfully finished the Genesis House program. This time, he avoided reverting to his previous bad habits of disobeying orders and skipping appointments. He was able to remain on top of program obligations, attend all necessary appointments, and find a permanent home in Rochester with the aid of his Genesis House case manager. He was also accepted into the Job Corps, where he is currently waiting to be placed in a long-term position. The salvation army's Genesis House will reportedly be directing newly arrived homeless youths to other shelters as of 2022. In 2022, The Salvation Army of Greater Rochester made the announcement that they would direct homeless youths who visit Genesis House to other shelter organizations for assistance. According to the Salvation Army, they will now direct homeless teenagers between the ages of 16 and 17 who want help to the Center for Youth and other regional organizations. For many years, Genesis House has been a strong and effective program, according to Major Debbie Burr, The Salvation Army's Director of Monroe County Operations. But, the environment has changed, particularly over the last 18 months, and they now have the chance to both review how the Salvation Army's resources are used in Rochester and to improve many of their other initiatives. In 1981, the Salvation Army's Genesis House in Rochester opened as a shelter for homeless and runaway teenagers between the ages of 16 and 20. In order to develop innovative methods for the shelter to serve the community, including potential additions such as more long-term supportive housing choices, the Salvation Army will also establish a strategic planning group. It’s also interesting to see the effect of homelessness amongst different groups of people as well. Particular juvenile and young adult subpopulations are more likely to experience homelessness. Compared to their white counterparts, the danger for black youth is 83% higher. Youth of Hispanic descent are at 33% higher risk. Youth who identify as LGBTQ were more than twice as likely to have been homeless. A young parent's risk was three times higher if they were single than if they were not. Youth who have been in foster care, juvenile detention, the police, or the prison system. Youth who do not graduate from high school are 3.5 times more likely to become homeless than their counterparts who did. Although many teens have housing options available if they become homeless there’s many causes which lead them into this predicament. Many young people are forced to live on the streets before they are adults because of instability in their households. Youth homelessness may result from family circumstances such child abuse and/or neglect, marital violence, parental substance use, or family strife. 90% of young people who use juvenile shelters say their homes are challenging, with frequent fighting or yelling. The vast majority of young people do not choose to become homeless, and instead end themselves couch surfing, sleeping on the streets, or in a shelter. Another cause of youth homelessness is parent-child conflict over a child's sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. It is too unsafe for young people to stay at home, so they are either expelled or leave. The disparity among LGBTQ kids who are homeless is alarming; they are more likely to experience victimization, sex trafficking, unsafe sexual behavior, mental health problems, and other problems. Homelessness among LGBTQ adolescents happens for a number of causes, including the co-occurrence of homophobia and transphobia, poverty, broken systems, family poverty and abuse, among others. In order to help these teens effectively or lessen the chances of teen homelessness besides the programs that are already out here, I feel that we need to pay close attention to the elements that particularly contribute to teenage homelessness. These include participation with government programs like child welfare and the criminal justice system, as well as issues with families, the economy, racial inequities, and mental and substance use illnesses. According to a research, 19% of kids who were in foster care when they were 17 reported being homeless at any point during the subsequent two years. We have to especially pay attention to the special requirements of vulnerable youth who are facing homelessness. This includes Native American youth, youth who identify as LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning), and youth who have been victims of human trafficking. For instance, for the 20 to 40 percent of LGBTQ kids suffering homelessness, family conflict and rejection over sexual orientation and gender identity may need to be addressed. Youth with impairments or special needs as well as young people who are pregnant or raising children are other susceptible categories. Approximately one in four of the youth enrolled in transitional living programs financed by the health and human services are parents or expectant mothers. Then recognize the effects of age and developmental factors on how youth experience homelessness and their exit and entry points. The goal of strategies should be to reconnect young people, especially those under the age of 18, with their families or other natural supports when it is safe to do so. About 70% of young people under the age of 18 who entered an emergency shelter financed by the health and human services exited the facility to visit a parent or guardian. A broader range of interventions, ranging from short to long term housing, with varying levels of support and services, including education, are needed to end homelessness among young people, in addition to family focused efforts. For young people aged 18 years or over, these services can be particularly useful. Unlike other systems youth interact with, like child welfare or juvenile justice, efforts to serve youth experiencing homelessness are not provided through a single, coordinated system of support funded by a state or Federal agency. Moreover, the varied and unique needs of youth experiencing homelessness require a range of interventions and solutions that no single funding stream can provide. In order to provide this variety of solutions, cooperation among the federal, state and local partners is required. We must establish and implement a joint, collaborative response within each community for the purpose of addressing all physical, developmental or social needs of young people experiencing homelessness. This response must be based upon efforts to promote healthy families at local, state and federal levels: By identifying and working with families at risk of breaking up, we can prevent youth from becoming homeless. We must effectively identify and engage youth at risk for, or actually experiencing, homelessness and connect them with trauma-informed, culturally appropriate, and developmentally and age-appropriate interventions. Intervene early when youth do become homeless and work toward family reunification, when safe and appropriate. Develop coordinated entry systems to identify youth for the appropriate types of aid and allocate resources according to their vulnerability. If needed, provide access to secure shelter and emergency services. Ensure that evaluations respond to the specific needs of and characteristics of young persons, which should be emphasized when necessary through strong links with and support for exit from mainstream systems. Create individual services and housing for each young person that are tailored to his or her needs, including measurable results across key performance indicators such as education and employment. We recognize that achieving the objective of ending youth homelessness is a challenge. The use of all available resources is needed to achieve this objective, and new investments will need to be made in a timely manner by the Government, States and Communities. We are all learning so much about how to end homelessness as a nation. Progress has been made through programs, showing that the goal of ending homelessness is attainable for all. When communities come together and mobilize around a goal, dramatic change can happen.
1 Comment
Snyder
4/28/2023 08:33:57 am
It seems like you do an abundance or research! I feel like with many problems, having a strong and safe family foundation is essential. It is unfathomable to me that any child should have to find themselves in this situation. Thank you for sharing the resources that are available for help.
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