Posh
English 12
26 September 2014
Homeless Youth “Nearly 6.5 million young Americans between the ages of 16 and 24 are not in school or the work force.” (Emmons) Sadly every year there are millions of children experiencing homelessness, these children are living in cars, shelters, and abandoned buildings. (Doorways for Women…) Being homeless causes these children to relocate constantly, which results in being pulled out of school and away from their peers. Children are more than likely to become homeless after being physically abused, sexually assaulted, or by family circumstances of financial troubles. In order to survive on the streets young teens are more likely to turn to drug dealing or exchanging sex for food, clothing and shelter. Today’s society has become oblivious to what has been occurring on the streets with these teens. They see no use in helping homeless youth due to the knowledge of homeless people taking money or help for granted. American society today does not understand the hardships homeless youth go through to survive living on the streets: like not having the work experience to get a job, not having the education needed to move further in life, learning and growing up with the influences of the streets and health issues. Parts of society have ignored and mocked the uprising issues of homelessness in youth. They choose not to offer help based on the stereotyping of homeless people. Homeless people are see as very sly, only using the money they are given for drugs and other usages not benefiting them. Society views teens crashing at a peers house as a temporary thing until it becomes a financial consequence. Having the work experience to get the job you want is extremely important because it becomes easier in the future to help obtain a stable career. Many jobs today recommend employees have some type of work experience so that they know that person will be an extremely important asset to the company. Having this