Teen Homelessness

HuffingtonPost - Updated: 02/12/2012 11:46 am

Homeless kids have the right to an education. That's the basic rationale behind the McKinney-Vento Act of 1987, a law meant to ensure that homeless kids receive the same quality of schooling as everyone else.

But with more families losing their homes as a result of the lingering effects of the recession, many homeless advocates say the law doesn't go far enough to help them. Yet attempts by these advocates to change things have led to a bitter debate within the field of homelessness advocacy itself.

At the center of the debate is the question of who qualifies for government-subsidized housing. As it stands, anyone defined as homeless by the Department of Housing and Urban Development can apply for housing aid from the government. The problem is that HUD's definition leaves out thousands who lack permanent homes -- people who sleep on the couches of friends and relatives, or many who live in cramped motel rooms. Before approving aid in these cases, HUD requires proof that their arrangements are very tentative: either documentation of a lack of funds to afford a hotel room for more two weeks, or confirmation from the friend offering the couch that this setup can not be permanent. Providing such documentation is often a difficult hurdle for people living under these circumstances.

PBS NEWSHOUR examines at-risk youth in two pieces on high school dropout problem airing this week (Feb. 3rd).

The PBS NEWSHOUR took a close look at the link between at-risk youth dropping out of high school and juvenile crime in two reports airing this month.

In the first report, Victor Rios, a former at-risk youth, dropout and gang member turned UC Santa Barbara Sociology Professor, shares his life story and his extensive research on at-risk youth, street-life oriented youth.

With the help of a teacher and several mentors, Rios turned his life around after his best friend was murdered, and he now serves as a mentor to at-risk youth in Santa Barbara.

During the second report, the NEWSHOUR focuses on the work of documentary photographer Richard Ross, who has spent the last five years photographing young people in the juvenile justice system, many of whom are dropouts. In the piece for the NEWSHOUR, Ross shares what he has learned about the dropout problem and youth crime after speaking with more than 1000 at-risk youth in 30 states.

Washington, D.C. (September 27, 2011)
By Michael Cohn, Accounting Today

A bipartisan trio of lawmakers have introduced a bill that would update the existing tax law to allow formerly homeless young people to pursue a four-year college education and still qualify for housing built with Low Income Housing Tax Credits.

Homeless youth currently cannot do both under existing tax law and must make the difficult decision to pursue an education or remain homeless. Congressman Jim McDermott, D-Wash., Erik Paulsen, R-Minn., and Keith Ellison, D-Minn., introduced the legislation on Tuesday to amend the tax laws.

“Education remains the best hope for homeless youth to escape poverty as adults,” said McDermott, a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee. “Today, our homeless youth must choose between being homeless or pursuing a full-time education. That is wrong, and this simple fix would have a significant impact in ensuring these youth can reach their educational goals.”

School is officially in session at the Wind Learning Center.

Graduating from high school for homeless or at-risk youth is an incredible accomplishment.

Since 2003, Wind has been able to assist countless youth through achieving their educational goals.

On July 7th a group of Youth Health Ambassadors from the Wind Center’s Healthshack program went to check out Destiny Ranch, a new transitional living program opening soon for young men between the ages of 17-21 in Lodi, CA. The ranch is an amazing place where young men will get an opportunity not only for housing, but also to finish their education and gain valuable life and employment skills. They can also learn how to manage a working ranch full of horses, cows, pigs and all sorts of other animals. It was a great opportunity to check out a new resource aimed at helping young men get back on their feet.