Wilhemenia M Maxey
Trinity International University
Professor Carly Johnson
ABSTRACT
There are many reasons to explain why Teenagers have become homeless. Some are “throwaways” which means that they were forced out of their homes by their own parents. The very people who should be protecting and loving these children just threw them away. This is not only incredibly heart wrenching, but it is also appalling. The good news is that some of the larger cities are taking steps to provide safe-havens for these homeless teenagers to stay. While the shelters are a great idea and wonderful way to help; the real problem still needs to be addressed. Homes need to be more stable and parents need to be real parents. Until that is resolved, homeless teenagers will continue to exist and will continue to need our help.
INTRODUCTION It was a misty dark cold night were even the moon had no affect of light, the wind was noisy everything in the way was it threw litter like it was the feathers and even the squirrels were no match for this wind. The rain was sinking on to the ground and like every single drop was getting drowned by the other. I was on foot walking towards a roof. There was none. I pleaded and even raindrops came out of my eyes but still I could not find any cover to stop Mother Nature from hurting me.
On one cold January morning, a time when my landlord gave the tenants to our laundry room to keep the homeless from sleeping in its warmth, five degrees outside with seven inches of snow on the ground, a group of children were waiting at the door at 10a.m. After they entered one of the teens, acting particularly angry, stomped around, cussing and hitting things. Thinking that he would soon get it out of his system. Brad let him along for a while. When it becomes apparent that the youth wasn’t going to let go, Brad finally said, “Terminator, what are you so upset about. The youth turned to him and looked him right in the eye. When I woke up this morning, the shoes I was wearing were frozen to the ground. That statement was like a bucket of ice water hurled into Brad’s boyish-looking face. He realized that even though he works with these children everyday and feels that he knows then well, the reality is, he hasn’t got the slightest idea of what they’re going through. When the center closes at 6p.m. each evening, he gets into his heated car and goes home to a hot-cooked meal in his warm house with a clean bed. “I empathize with these children and I do all I can for them, but I really haven’t got a clue, the 40-year-old Simkins says.
REASONS
Abuse is a major reason for becoming homeless; they are fleeing a bad situation. Colleen A. Wagner, Runaway & Homeless Youth Coordinator from Bromme County, New York, notes that homeless youth “come from unsafe environments. She stresses that young girls are especially vulnerable to abuse and “they just can’t take it.” Another reason for being homeless is sexual orientation. According to a study from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, around 26% of gay teens that come out are told to leave their homes. The streets aren’t much better, though. According to Cooper, homeless teens don’t have a park bench to sleep on because homeless adults claim these, and “homeless adults and homeless youth don’t interact with each other. Teens are in danger of coming ton conflict with adult homeless people. Sometimes, they are even sexually assaulted. Luckily, homeless teens have the option of transitional housing in a lot of areas in America. Mile Leahey works at the Teen Transitional Living Program for Catholic Charities of Broome County. He talks fondly of the teens he works with, attesting that they are good-natured youth. The stereotype of a homeless teen typically doesn’t include being a student, but many are