Rachel Smith December 7, 2016
T A B L E
O F C O N T E N T S
• Letter from the Editor
• Social Ecological Model
• Playlist of songs • Social Media discussion • Movies and Documentaries • Advocacy steps • Fiction and nonfiction literature
L E T T E R
F R O M T H E E D I T O R
homelike environment and youth who are homeless is engagement of survival behaviors. These behaviors Thank you for taking the time to read this magazine the primarily stem from a lack of economic means and about a prevalent and concerning issue within the include prostitution, theft, and drug dealing among United States. One in seven youth, 1.2-2 million others. While these are typical avenues for youth to individuals, ages thirteen to seventeen ,are homeless for obtain an income, these behaviors also result in a high at least one month within a given year in this country probability of arrest (Yoder, Bender, Thompson, (Homeless and Runaway youth, 2016; Edidin, Ganim, Ferguson, & Haffejee, 2013). Due to many of these Hunter, & Karnik, 2011). survival behaviors, youth can become “nobodies,” which This is a significant number of young people who are can be visualized through watching, “Hidden Homeless experiencing the trauma of living without a stable home. Youth,” and “Light up the Streets” mentioned later. In There are many factors that influence why youth run addition, dive into some books listed in the fiction away from home, some of which are family abuse and section that bring to life many of these topics. neglect and family conflict. However, youth who have If a youth identifies within the Lesbian Gay Bisexual run away from home have often been viewed as Transgender Queer or Questioning (LGBTQ+) delinquent, with the result that many in society often do population, they have a significantly higher chance of not care about them and consequently force homeless family rejection and abuse making up around 20-40% of youth to become invisible (Farber, Kinast, McCoard, & the homeless youth population (Edidin, Ganim, Hunter, Falkner, 1984). In the playlist on the next few pages, & Karnik, 2011). The documentary called songs like, “Nobody’s Home,” “Another Day in “Homestreatch,” as well as “Lost in America,” discussed Paradise,” and “Street Child,” speaks to this confusion in the movie section, addresses this prevalent issue. and pain that results from being rejected or ignored by society. In addition, an article in the non-fiction section Rachel Smith highlights the invisibility of youth. Founder and Publisher As a consequence of living on the streets, many youth become involved in anti-social and negative behaviors that re-victimize them and thus continue the very cycle of abuse and violence that they left their homes in order to avoid (Edidin, Ganim, Hunter, & Karnik, 2011). One of the biggest differences between youth who are living in a Dear Reader,
Nobody’s Home by Avril Lavigne, 2004 The lyrics speak about not understanding why the character in this song is being rejected, how she is dealing with too many problems, and not feeling like she belongs anywhere. The song talks about how she is broken but has nobody who cares and nowhere to go. The song also speaks about being strong but how she is falling behind and losing her dreams. All of these experiences speak to aspects of life that homeless youth often face.
P L A Y L I S T
Another Day in Paradise by Phil Collins, 1989 This song speaks very directly to the theme of being invisible and being considered a “nobody.” The song starts out talking about a girl on the streets who asks a man walking by for a place to stay. The man does not even acknowledge her, but continues on his way, acting as if she was invisible and living in his “paradise” while this girl continues to struggle and live on the street. The song talks about her not fitting in anywhere and not being wanted, in addition to feeling embarrassed for living on the street.
P L A Y L I S T
Street Child by Slash with Elan, 2008 This song explores youth on the streets not understanding why they are invisible or why they are outcasts. The youth are seeking somewhere to fly and be free and yet they are ignored. Additionally, if they are acknowledged, it is only to tell them there is something wrong with them.
Stronger by Kelly Clarkson, 2011 This song speaks to the resilience and strength that I see represented in the population of homeless youth. It shows how there can be pain and hardship in life. However, it also points to how these hard experiences can actually help strengthen individuals, making them stronger. This song encourages me see the strengths that homeless youth have and are able to build on and consequently become stronger.
Fly by Ludovico Einaudi, 2011 This song, although instrumental, is fast and unpredictable. I imagine a youth running in the beginning, which changes into big dramatic sounds, possibly indicating meeting dangers and chaos on the streets. The song also has dissonance, which could imply how there can be feelings of confusion, not fitting in with society’s norms, and feeling different or out of place. The song ends by fading out, which could represent that there are frequently not conclusive, and unfortunately not always positive, endings to the stories of homeless youth.
M O V I E S A N D D O C U M E N T A R I T E S
Invisible: Diaries of New York’s Homeless Youth, 2011 Follows the stories of five homeless youth living in New York. The documentary touches on how homeless youth are often “invisible” to society. Through the video, the producers seek to raise awareness of the problem and encourage new interventions that will better serve the youth who are experiencing these challenges. Lost in America: A documentary on homeless youth, 2016 This film dives into some of the reasons why there are so many youth living without a home. It specifically investigates the high percentage of LGBTQ+ youth who experience homelessness. The producers seek to shed light on the problem of youth homelessness in America and ignite a movement toward change.
Hidden Homeless Youth, 2016 Talks about the “nobodieness” of individuals living on the street and how they are looked at as less than humans. The video highlights how homelessness can become a cycle when youth are trying to live without any support.
M O V I E S A N D D O C U M E N T A R I T E S
The Homestretch, 2015 This movie is told from the personal perspective of a homeless youth. It challenges the audience to see homelessness in a different light and also connects to macro issues of poverty, race, foster care, LGBTQ+ rights, and the juvenile justice system.
Light up the Street, 2013 This is a short video, highlighting the facts about homelessness and what it entails for the youth who are living this type of life.
F I C T I O N
The Beggar’s Ride Family Pose by by Theresa Nelson Dean Hughes A young girl flees A young boy feels an unhappy home unwanted at a life and tries to foster home and survive on the lives on the streets streets with a gang until finding of homeless kids. another place to This book recounts live. This book a significant reason highlights, and why youth leave brings to life, how home and also youth in foster care recognizes the can be at greater fact that they often risk of being join a group of their homeless. peers on the streets which can lead to increased involvement in dangerous behaviors.
Monkey Island by Can’t Get there Paula Fox From Here by After being left by Todd Strasser his mother, a youth Follows the story of fends for himself a young girl who and ends up relying was abused by her on two strangers to stepfather and was help him. not believed by her Abandonment or mother. neglect, as well as Consequently she becoming reliant on finds herself living strangers, is a with other youth on theme in many the streets and stories of homeless becomes involved youth. with survival behaviors. The book also highlights feelings of “nobodiness” and invisibility in society.
N O N F I C T I O N
“Homeless Young People of New York, Overlooked and Underserved,” by Nikita Stewart, written on February 6, 2016, published in The New York Times highlights the prevalence of youth homelessness, along with the feelings of invisibility that homeless youth often experience and feel.
An article in The Washington Post, “These are the faces of America’s growing youth homeless population,” by Emma Brown, written on June 17, 2016, details the gravity of the issue of youth homelessness as well as the individuals who are at risk of experiencing homelessness. The article also discusses outcomes of youth who experience homelessness.
S O C I A L
E C O L O G I C A L M O D E L
Social Ecological theory can help understand how homeless youth end up on the trajectories that they do. The main premise of this theory allows us to not only examine an individual and the environment that they find themselves in, but to notice how each system involved within the environment interacts with the individual and other systems at work in that person’s environment (Ungar, 2002). For example, there is a cyclical effect that arises when homeless youth are unable to achieve employment (system), engage in survival behaviors, are arrested (system), and then are unable to gain employment due to a criminal history. These different systems interact with the individual in their environment who is struggling to survive (Yoder, Bender, Thompson, Ferguson, & Haffejee, 2013). In March, 2016, The Richmond Times Dispatch reported on an event in an article called, “Overlooked and uncounted: Group brings awareness to youth homelessness,” that sought to meet some of the needs of homeless youth while also raising awareness. Numerous organizations and services convened on the downtown campus of the University of Richmond and provided services for homeless youth. One of the individuals involved in the program commented about how society’s negative view of homeless youth impact their ability to participate in shelters. Consequently, since the shelter system of care does not see this population as lacking suport, they are reluctant to provide funding for necessary resources that homeless youth are in desperate need of.
S O C I A L M E D I A D I S C U S S I O N
Individuals on Facebook post about building awareness and providing for homeless youth's needs as winter approaches
W A Y S T O M A K E A
D I F F E R E N C E
1. Combat the negative stereotypes and uninformed opinions about homeless youth 2. Equip schools and educators as well as other community members with tools to recognize warning signs that could lead to youth leaving home 3. Monitor abuse, neglect, or violence that is occurring at home 4. Become conscious of ensuring the safety of youth who identify on the LGBTQ+ spectrum 5. Notice youth who are using substances 6. Utilize resources and agencies that are making a difference in your community. Youth.gov is a resource that compiles information about youth homelessness as well as a list of agencies that are intervening and helping youth in this situation.