Liz McArdle

Mrs. Pettay
ENG 111 3A
14 October 2015
The Homeless Youth Crisis
Homeless youth are the most commonly ignored demographic in need. Currently, it is recorded
that there are over a half million homeless youth within our society. And yet, the majority of charity
work and facilities built are intended for the adult homeless demographic. The issue created is that
many efforts are marketed solely towards homeless people in general, but this typically results in
negligence towards the needy youth. This is a result of homeless youth within America facing
hardships entirely unique to their specific demographic.
Due to the exclusive nature of their issues, homeless youth are placed in a completely different
category than general homeless communities. Communities of homeless youth, classified as anyone
aged 24 or younger, stereotypically express alternate behavior and thus require alternate aid.
According to the Nation Alliance to End Homelessness, homeless youth do not spend time in the same
areas as adult homeless communities. In fact, they often disguise themselves to better blend in which
adds to the complexity of creating proper facilities to help them. The discreet nature of homeless
youth, also often due to the element of avoiding foster care, leaves many receiving little to no help at
all. Overall, the lack of seeking assistance is due to the taboo social norms of homeless youth culture.
While the lifestyle of homeless youth provides a separation between them and the demographic of
adult homeless people, the youth often face another unique obstacle in regards to earning money.
Homeless youth face multiple obstacles when attempting to find work due to their situation and
age. The struggle for homeless youth is more than simply experiencing difficulty obtaining a job, for
many it is legally impossible. Due to restricting labor laws, homeless youth are often exploited and
forced to work within illegal trafficking and prostitution situations in order to earn money. Studies find
that LGBTQA homeless youth are often the most at rick to become involved in trafficking and
prostitution. Additionally, research shows that homeless youth are more likely to contract diseases
such as HIV as a direct result of their demographic being targeted for exploitation. This unsafe style of
work is unusual for this age range of youth, mostly between the ages of 15 and 17. However, in the
mysterious homeless youth culture it is not uncommon and is often one of the only solutions to allow
them to meet basic needs for survival. While the generalized situation of homeless youth struggling to
meet basic needs matches that of homeless adults, their solution and unavoidable obstacles are unique
to them.
The lifestyles and hardships of homeless youth are mysterious and not generally experienced
by any other demographic. Between their difficulty receiving help due to social norms and their
inability to legally provide for themselves, homeless youth experience life in a vastly different way
than others, even other homeless people. For the most part, every community within America contains
homeless youth, it is up to the public to decide if this should change. Ultimately, it all comes down to
society finally acknowledging the existence of homeless youth rather than disregarding them.