ROOTS Young Adult Shelter Analysis

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

The impact of divorce, battering, and other family disruptions in combination with economic insecurity and primary responsibility for their children lead many women towards homelessness. It is believed that half of all homeless women have been a victim of some form of domestic violence, based on self-reporting and observations of various programs staffers. (National Research Council, 1996). However, the numbers of homeless domestic violence victims may be underestimated because some victims are reluctant to self-report. Homeless women seldom view their abuse as their primary problem and may not reveal that they are victims. In some cases, if a woman reports that she is a victim of domestic violence, a homeless shelter may refuse to accept her for security reasons. Most shelters do not offer services to women unless they conform to the criteria that distinctly makes them part of the particular group the shelter program targets. Programs can be specifically geared towards battered, homeless women and have been a great success in dealing with the emotions of the situation.

Homeless shelters are temporary residence for homeless families or individuals. They provide safety and protection from possible dangers in the streets and from exposure to different weather conditions. While the homeless shelter is able to provide a roof over their heads, they also experience several problems due to lack of funding for a more proper homeless shelter set up. These problems are as follows:

This homelessness population consists of people from all age groups: infants, children, adolescents, adulthood, and the

A common misconception of homeless youth is that even if they do become homeless they are not homeless for long. The National Alliance to End

In 1998, the U.S Conference of Mayors’ survey of homelessness in 30 cities found that children under the age of 18 accounted for 25% of the urban homeless population. A 1987 Urban Institute study found that 51% of the homeless populations were between the ages of 31 and 50; other studies have found percentages of homeless persons aged 55 to 60 ranging from 2.5% to 19.4%. (National Coalition for the Homeless factsheet)

In an effort to end homelessness in Washington, DC, low barrier shelters, such as the Harriet Tubman Woman’s Shelter were implemented. Located in the center of DC General Campus in Southeast, DC, the Harriet Tubman Woman’s shelter, “is a 100 bed low-barrier emergency shelter for women over the age of 18 who are in urgent need of housing, food or case management” (Catholic Charities Archdiocese of Washington, Inc., 2010). A low-barrier shelter is “usually primarily short-term shelter for individuals. Low-barrier shelter is designed to keep people safe, is often open only 12 hours a day, and is often in a congregate setting. This type of program is provided, on a first come, first served basis, to any adult presenting as homeless. It is sometimes also referred to as emergency shelter” (Interagency Council on Homelessness District of Columbia, 2010, p.4) For all shelters in the Washington, DC area the women are to be out of the shelter from the time of 7am until the doors open again at 7pm. For those women who are not a part of the work program or have nothing to do during the day, the women have a chance to participate in the day program located in the shelter.

These homeless families face many adversities and issues when seeking permanent housing like possible separation from their family members due to many

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

Evidence has shown that teen homeless across America is ongoing and impacts youth of all cultures and backgrounds. There are millions of youth that are homeless in the United States. The typical ages of homeless youth are eighteen and younger. In America the average youth becomes homeless by age fourteen (www.safehorizon.com). Youth can become homeless for a number of reasons e.g. finances, verbal and physical abuse, pregnancy, sexual orientation, mental illness and neglect. Many youth and young adults have also become homeless due to aging out of foster care services. Youth

Cities increasingly grapple with homelessness, while facing budget cuts to various services, but the failure to tackle homelessness creates more problems. While there are homeless people who are on drugs, some are there because housing is expensive and they have no reliable sources of income. Homelessness may result in the city spending more on welfare in a never ending cycle without finding a solution to homelessness. There are various factors associated with the risk of homelessness, including individual factors like those fleeing domestic abuse, and even those who can longer earn a living because of health conditions and disabilities. The problem of homelessness is further compounded when the homeless suffer mental health issues and alcohol or drug dependence (Benston, 2015). Homelessness is a problem that affects even the youth, and stakeholders ought to work together to tackle the problem, as city officials, and residents are the audience who should be concerned with the problem at the local level.

60 residents were selected from a pool of homeless individuals. Residents will be compared to a control group of homeless individuals in Denver to analyze the impact of supportive housing on homelessness.

HCC Housing will developed and implement approaches to expands the effort toward homeless teen, short the time that an individuals or families need to be homeless before receiving some help and have a rapid re-housing for family who become homeless without fault of their own doing. HCC lack the availability housing for teens serves to be able to attain permanent housing. Offer programs need is more stable supportive housing for teens. Stable supportive housing that is a specific model of housing designed to serve teens with no family support. HCC will provide ongoing supportive services, such as case management, assistance with daily living skills, and help in accessing services in the community. HCC policy requires

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).

Shelter’s approach to anti-social behaviour in young people if to primarly identify the needs of the individual and solve the root of the problem, rather than it resulting in a scenario where young people are evicted and moved into a different accommodation only to reoffend (Cullen, 2006). By helping young people re-engage with their community, they hope to tackle anti-social behaviour and and social exclusion for the long term.