Homeless Youth Research Paper

Our text illustrates that there are various populations within the homeless community. These people are homeless for different reasons, whether its voluntary or involuntarily. Runaways and Victims of

​Homelessness and substance abuse are often two problems that continue to be linked together. However, homelessness can be an effect of substance abuse and vice versa. Addiction problems disrupt family organization and job performance resulting in loss of housing. While homeless, recovering from an addiction can be hard with lack of resources and the ability to access the appropriate care. In the following sections of this paper we will look at interventions and its effectiveness in the helping process, a multi-cultural analysis on the effects of homelessness, social and

Health ←and→ mental health troubles reflected an extensive range of concerns centered on chronic health problems, substance abuse, psychosocial, clinically diagnosed problems, self-esteem problems. Substance abuse was noticed as a major obstacle to conquering homelessness addictive behaviors in the same way as alcoholism, drug abuse were frequently identified in

The widespread of the crack cocaine in the 1980 also increased homelessness. Many individuals suffering from homelessness also suffer from many different type of drug addictions. It is estimated that 40 % of homeless people are dependent on alcohol and 25% on other drugs. Alcoholism is increasingly being recognized as the most pervasive health problem for homeless. In addition homeless alcohol dependent individuals have a higher prevalence of other psychiatric disorders and more impaired in their social and vocational functioning. Alcoholism and the behaviors coupled with it have a huge influence on physical health. Majority of studies conducted on homelessness and drugs

Being homeless presents many challenges for youth that they normally live day to day, unable to develop plans for forming a productive life structure. Since many homeless youth don’t have money so they start begging or selling drugs or start prostituting to earn money to cover their basic needs. The basic problem of homelessness is the human need for personal shelter,

Homelessness is a major problem in the United States. An incredibly vulnerable group is the homeless youth due to their young age and lack of education. According to Edidin, Ganim, Hunter, & Karnik (2012) on any particular night in the United States there are ~2 million homeless youth living on the streets, in shelters, or in other temporary accommodation. Youth become homeless for multiple reasons whether it be because they have aged out of foster care, ran from home, were kicked out of their home, or because they have become homeless along with their family members. Within the umbrella categorization of homeless youth there are high at risk subgroups, common misconceptions, and a serious concern of lack of support and medical services.

In youth homelessness these children, adolescents and even young adults are being exposed to many dangerous drugs, alcohol, and people.

There are many origins or causes of teen homelessness. The chief issues among homeless youth are financial adversity and household clash. Abuse also plays a major role in teen homelessness substance abuse, verbal abuse and physical abuse. Some youth become homeless due to pregnancy, sexual orientation, mental illness and neglect. Others are aging out of foster care and juvenile corrections facilities.

In the reading of “Toward a needs-based typology of homeless youth. Journal of Adolescent Health” the schemas was a little different. In the article they look at homeless in youth in four categories. Homeless youth are now widely recognized and accepted in the literature: situational runaways, runaways, throwaways, and systems youth (Coward Bucher, C, 2008)

Homeless people may have substance abuse problems and may also have mental health issues like anxiety, depression, or psychosis and other issues. Drug dependence, abusing alcohol, misusing prescribed medications are all ways of substance abuse among homeless people. Illicit drugs like cannabis, cocaine and methamphetamines or “ice” among others substances that are usually used. You cannot easily tell what comes first between substance abuse and mental heath issues because homeless people that abuse alcohol and drugs to cope with their mental health condition and for others substance abuse may bring about mental health

Substance abuse is often a cause of homelessness. A high percentage of homeless people struggle with substance abuse, but addictions must be considered as illnesses and demand a great deal of treatment, counseling, and support to be able to

Homeless teenagers are a vulnerable population that faces many challenges just in terms of daily existence in addition to their overall development in the transitioning to adulthood. Current studies are reported to indicate that the primary cause of homeless among youth is "family dysfunction in the form of parental neglect, physical or sexual abuse, family substance abuse, and family violence." (Runway & Homeless Youth and Relationship Toolkit, 2009, p.1) Homeless youth are generally defined as "an unaccompanied youth ages 12 and older who are without family support and who are living in shelters, on the streets, in cares or vacant buildings and who are 'couch surfing' or living in other unstable circumstances." (Runway & Homeless Youth and Relationship Toolkit, 2009, p.1) Son (2002) writes that it is "...unknown how many homeless youth are out there. Most of them are not in the child welfare, juvenile justice, or mental health systems, making it difficult to accurately gather statistical data." (p.2)

Youth homelessness can be define as young individuals, ranging from age 12 to around 25, who are without any support from their families, and are either living on the streets or at a shelter. There are often “referred to as “unaccompanied” youth.” (National Coalition for Homelessness (NCH), 2007). Unaccompanied youths can be categorized as runaway-homeless youths, throwaways, and independent youths. Runaway- homeless youths are youths that leave home without any parental permission. Youths that leave their homes because parents encourage them to leave are categorize as throwaways. The final classified as independent youths who leave home because of family conflicts or other issues. (Aratani, 2009).

Though it has been seen that heterosexual homeless youth do partake in illegal drug and alcohol use, their homosexual counter parts initiate use earlier. For youth who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered, substance use tends to begin after they are forced on the street becoming homeless, which suggests that illegal drug and alcohol and drug use is most likely a

Homelessness can be caused by drug abuse and drug abuse can also be an implication of homelessness. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, “A survey by the United States Conference of Mayors found that 68 percent of cities reported that substance abuse was the largest cause of homelessness for single adults. Substance abuse was also reported as one of the top three causes of family homelessness by 12 percent of cities” (Opioid Abuse). One study showed that drug addiction and overdose put veterans at the highest risk for homelessness and another study showed that twenty five percent of the homeless people surveyed said that using and abusing drugs was the main reason they were homeless (Opioid Abuse).