1. Homeless Youth Jason Freda Faisal Khan Tracy Moonsammy Lynette Rivera Eric Wang

2. Introduction Homeless population in New York City continues to grow. Young children and Teenagers are most prominently afflicted. Our action plan to remedy the problem.

3. Homeless Youth Statistics Individuals under age 18 who lack parental, foster, or institutional care. Main problems identified by youth: – Family problems – Economic problems – Financial instability

4. Consequences Challenges on the street. Mental and physical problems.

5. National Runaway Switchboard Each year The N.R.S. handles more than 115,000 calls from youth and concerned adults who are reaching out for help. Call Volume Activity in NYC: 6,192 Gender of Caller Male24.0% Female76.0% On the Street - Means of Survival Friends/Relatives47.7% Shelters/Soup Kitchens8.2% Stealing1.4% Prostitution/Sex Industry2.1% Selling Drugs1.0% Unknown25.0% Panhandling2.2% Personal Funds7.3% Detention/Police3.0% Employment2.1% Source: www.crisisline.org & www.Nationalhomeless.orgwww.crisisline.orgwww.Nationalhomeless.org

6. SEE: Homelessness Teenagers – Lack of housing. – Increased level of abuse. – Increased level of unemployment.

7. SEE: The “Young Girl” About 17 years old. “Lived” on street corner (42 nd & Madison). “I’m hungry, can someone please provide me with some food or change?” Our initial observation: A Blank Stare Other people’s reactions: Disgust

8. SEE: “Shauna” “Lives” at Open Door Drop-In Center, NYC. 20 years old. Originally from Indianapolis. Parents: – Mother: Drug Addict – Father: In Prison “I’m no different than anyone else, all I want is a chance.”

9. SEE: Conclusion Society may never understand homeless people and the obstacles they face. Our overwhelmingly fast-paced society leads people to react to homeless with a lack of compassion. Homelessness continues to grow.

10. JUDGE: Outlook on the Homeless Individuals tend to: – Look down upon them. – View them as “worthless.” – See the individual’s problem as self inflicted. – Generalize them. Two Tangible Models: – The Celebrity – The Typical Citizen

11. JUDGE: Commodity Form Reaction “The Celebrity” and their assumed characteristics. Modeling of human behavior as related to worth. People seen as things. Production, Marketing, Consuming, Value. Exteriority

12. JUDGE: Personal Form Reaction The “Typical Citizen” and their assumed characteristics. People are irreplaceable. Religious basis. “Do Unto Others”

13. JUDGE: Conclusion Both are prevalent. Based on background and upbringing. Society and media trend toward Commodity Form. Family values and religion move toward Personal Form.

14. ACT: Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) D.Y.C.D. Services – Crisis Shelters – Interim Family Program – Transitional Independent Living Programs – Drop-In Center Program – RHY Street Outreach and Referral Service Program

15. ACT: Covenant House Outreach Nineline Hotline 1-800-999-9999. Right’s of Passage. Community Service Centers. Programs: – Substance Abuse Programs – Help for youths addicted to alcohol or drugs – Mother/Child Program – Provides special care for pregnant and parenting young women – Aftercare Program – Provides vital additional support to young people after they leave Covenant House

16. ACT: Covenant House Statistics Break down by Age Breakdown by Culture Breakdown by Gender

17. ACT: Action Plan More funding. Early-age awareness building. Better advertising, public service announcements. Better education for adults. More community involvement. Better cooperation between agencies. Long-term planning.

18. Questions? Comments?