Homelessness is a huge plague spread out across the globe. According to The National Student Campaign Against: Hunger and Homelessness, just in America there are a little over 3.5 million people living in homeless situations 35% of the homeless population is families with kids. Children who are under the age of 18 take up 25% of the population. Unaccompanied or homeless youth are children under the age of 18 lacking parental, foster or, institutional care. The National Runaway Switchboard states that there can be around 1.3 million homeless youth in unstable living conditions per night. (National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness" 2003. 8 Oct. 2015) What are the reasons America's children are being put in …show more content…
A lot of times children run away from home due to years of physical or sexual abuse or addiction of a family member. In one study 46% of youth who ran away were physically abused while 17% reported being in sexual activities forcefully by a household or family member (U.S Department of Health and Human Services ©, 1997). The National State of Legislatures has a study that says 75% of runaways are female. The study also says that the amounts of females who are pregnant and homeless are between 6 and 22 percent of the homeless population. (National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness" 2003. 8 Oct. 2015)
The LGBTQ community holds a big portion of the homeless community. According to the Williams Institute 40% of youth homelessness identifies as LGBTQ. Children are kicked out or leave because of the abuse in their homes. 46% of LGBT homeless youth have become homeless due to family rejection of their sexual orientation. When LGBTQ leave home they are at a higher risk of sexual exploitation from others. A lot of times people in the LGBTQ community need more support than others. That is why we have communities and shelters just for the LGBTQ …show more content…
In Tennessee there is a LGBTQ organization for homeless youth called Out Central. A lot of LGBTQ youth have a hard time trying to finding welcoming and positive environments or shelters because of their sexual preference. A lot of LGBTQ youth deal with a lot of abuse and trauma due to their sexual identity which puts them at more risk for suicidal behavior, dangerous situations, and drug abuse. In shelters and facilities for homeless youth, which is not specifically for LGBTQ, children might be discriminated or not treated properly. This is because a lot of staff has not been culturally trained on LGBTQ matters. That is why these organizations and shelters are such a big