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Inequality In CIPA

Decent Essays

Welcome to Ithaca New York, a small scenic town tucked away in the valleys of Tompkins County in Upstate New York. When an Ithaca resident takes a stroll in the downtown area, she can see all the characteristics of a budding city: high restaurant density, quality higher education, and inequality , . However, an aspect of inequality that she may not be able to see is the significant prevalence of homeless youth in Ithaca.

Homelessness, especially among the youth (12-24 years of age), is difficult to capture in data due to the invisibility of this population. The homeless and independent youth are, generally, not part of formal institutions like homeless shelters or mental health systems. As a response to the dire circumstances these youths face on a daily basis, they come to rely on internal informal networks that they trust. Consequently, it is common for young, homeless and independent, individuals to temporarily stay with different friends: constantly moving from one couch to another. This network of trust is invaluable to this population and is a potential key for policy makers to look at unconventional methods to identify and address the most pressing needs.

The Independent Living Survey, 2015 (ILS) , designed and administered by trained formerly homeless independent youth in Tompkins County, gathers important information about the condition …show more content…

Our team proposes a unique solution that complements the existing policies to solve food insecurity for independent youth, and enhances the local economy of Ithaca as well. The approach we use seeks to expand the network of trust and care to include formal institutions and the larger community to solve this local problem and provide a wider range of alternatives for our youth to rely

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