When people drive down the street and look on street corners it has become more common to see a homeless man or woman standing there with a sign. What you don’t see is the under aged kids that are homeless as well. According to covenanthouse.org about 40% of homeless people are under the age of 18. Can you imagine your child or a child you know having to fend for themselves on the side of the street hoping someone will help them. I recently read an article in the local paper about a group of homeless youth living on the streets in Virginia Beach, VA. I have been a foster parent for over 17 years now and my mindset was that they were in shelters with families or foster care. But in all reality they are out in the world waiting for that helping hand to help clothe, feed, and provide shelter. I found that there are organizations that help the youth up until the age of 21. I don’t yet understand the do’s and don’ts of helping the under aged youth since there are so many laws but am working my way through them to better understand how I can help these troubled youth get back into a normal reality.
Now you may be asking yourselves how these kids end up on the streets fending for themselves. Covenant.com shows that 41% witnessed violence in their own home, 36% witnessed their parents using drugs regularly, 19% reported being beaten with an object, 19% reported they have endured sexual abuse, and 15% reported someone close to them had been murdered. There is a local boy that lives near me that endures violence in his own home and runs as soon as it happens to get away from it. But with the laws of today he is not able to get very far from his parents. Local law enforcers have said that parents have more power of the child than people think. If they are picked up then they have to go back into the parents’ custody. If they go to a safe house and are reported as a run away then that organization has to call the parents to let them know of their whereabouts. Then if they show up to pick up that child then the organization has to make the child leave. No wonder there are so many homeless youth on the street, they would rather take their chances on the street than at home.
Your next question is how can we help? How can I help one of these kids if the laws have our hands tied so much it doesn’t matter if I put out that helping hand? In 2011 I am planning a Formal Galla at the Hilton Garden Inn to raise money to purchase a home for these children through my non-profit organization (Advancing Youth of America). We will hire staff around the clock as well as involve volunteers to help educate these youth to receive their GED’s, as well as Resume Writing, Independent living skills, how to search for jobs, money management, as well as many other things they need in order to make it in today’s economy. Some people really do not have the time to devote to physically working with this cause, but they can be involved in many other areas such as: fundraisers, a wonderful way of doing this is adopting the non-profit as your cause and host yard sales, pig pickins, spa days, pancake breakfast, as well as Churches can get involved by Sunday school classes competing to collect food, clothing and donations also adding us to everyone's website for acknowledgment. Schools could hold events with all money's or items be donated. Bands holding a concert once a year, There is also a real need for Pediatricians to volunteer their time once a week by coming in to check on the children. There is not one person in this world that can't get involved in one way or another. Are you someone who loves to network? Then there is a need for you as well. Let people know about this get the word out. It is in your hands. If everyone could just see the need in pitching in and give 1.00 just think how that could help these kids. Let's get together and perform a miracle for these kids. Won't you find it in your heart to do something?
Advancing Youth Of America was developed two years ago in the hope of helping our at risk youth have opportunity to advance in life the way every child deserves. We have our EIN with the IRS, but in the process of raising funds for the non-profit portion of the organization. As you know not much comes in the way of FREE, so we will do all we can to raise that money. The faster we are registered the better things will go for the children we are trying to serve.
Thank you for taking the time to read Bonnie's blog. I hope in some way this touched your heart and it will be your desire to adopt this cause to help our homeless youth. Please add my website (still have a few things to do) and my Facebook bonnie bright bradshaw to your website to give others a chance of knowledge and maybe help out these children.
Bonnie Bright Bradshaw
www.bonniebradshawspeaks.com
bonniebradshawspeaks@gmail.com
757-338-3344
Anyone who, due to a lack of housing, lives:
• In emergency or transitional shelters; In motels, hotels, trailer parks, campgrounds, aban- doned in hospitals, awaiting foster care placement; In cars, parks, public places, bus or train stations, abandoned buildings; Doubled up with relatives or friends, In these conditions and is a child or youth not in the physical custody of an adult (unaccompanied youth*), In these conditions and is a migratory child or youth.
• To determine homelessness, consider the permanence and adequacy of the living situation.
* Unaccompanied youth - a youth without fixed, regular, and adequate housing who are not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian. This would include runaways living in homeless situations and those denied housing by their families (sometimes referred to throwaway children and youth).
