Ortiz-ortiz 1

Yaneli Ortiz-Ortiz

Ms. Wilson

English II Honors

May 10th, 2019

Homeless Teenagers

United states is a very rich country and yet we still have many young children and teenager

being homeless. I think in a country so big and national there shouldn't be any teenager living

on the street. No one so young should be worrying were to sleep at night when their next meals

going to be and not feeling safe. This is a problem it isn't being addressed as much as it should

be. We still have young children on the streets. We should let this be knowed because children

and teenager’s are innocent to society, it's dangerous for them to be exposed to the world at

such a young age. It’s not correct nor fair.

How are these children ending up in the streets? Many of the teenagers are abandoned at a

young age. They get left because parents can't afford to substance them, others cases because

of their religion beliefs on sexuality. The countless teenagers estimated around 1.3 to 1.7 million

in usa alone that are being abandoned They. go through a lot because they got abandoned by

their parents. Some teenagers get sad, lonely, addicted and depressed. Having someone to

trust isn't really found when being in te streets. Being on the streets prevents them from trusting

anyone at times. They don't have that extra support from a relative or a friend to tell them it's

going to be ok. This can be solved if they get that extra support they need during the hard times.

Therapy can help them cope with the idea of being abandoned if it is a problem. Have a place

that can trust and people they can look up to too ask for help if they need it would also be a

good help.They can make it through if they don't have this support, but it will be 3 times as

harder. Support can be given from teachers, counselor and the government. There are also
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many other techniques that can help them cope with everything. Art therapy or turning to

religion is also other good coping methods.

A big struggle every person face being homeless is no knowing where to sleep at night.

They carry their whole belongings in just one bag, their whole everything is in just that one bag.

Based on a young college students perspective this is what he happened to him, “For months,

he moved from one place to another, carrying his belongings in a tote bag” ( A place to stay,

page 1} not knowing where to stay at night was a struggle. Some sleep at parks, bus benches,

motels and even parking lots. Many don't care where there sleeping but at least that they feel

safe. Most go through a struggle to get to school because of where they are staying at night. Its

an issue that there isn't enough shelter available for teenager to go to. At times there isn't

enough space, so this causes them to end up sleeping in the streets. This causes a lot of effect

then what it sounds like. The longer they are in the streets the more they are exposed to harm.

This is very dangerous because there are bad people who will do them harm. The government

should have more available shelters especially for teenagers.

The streets aren't any friend for someone who is homeless. It's a dangerous place

for safe adolescents. They are exposed at higher risk to get hooked to drugs. They can face

gang violence and can get harassed. It’s a problem because 85.2% of the girls on the street feel

unsafe because they feel any minute their privacy will get violated. 35%of the male feel they can

get jumped any minute. The government should see what family is struggling and try preventing

a child or teenager from ending on the street. I think if the community watches over each other it

would make things easier so if a child is on the verge of homeless, they get back up.

Teenagers all over the world are being stoned by their parents. They are being left based

on the sexuality, disagreement or that their parent can't substance them. They go through a lot

of trauma on the streets. They can face a lot of harm on the streets and don’t trust no one at
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most times. They don't have that extra support they need to know it’s going to be fine for most of

them. There shouldn't be teenagers or children in the street to begin with because they're still

growing physically and mentally. Teens should be protected from the streets. The government

should prevent this from happening. If there is a young adolescent on the street, they need

support from people they can trust. The teenager should be supported and taken care of; they

need therapy if they have been through a lot.

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Citations

● Press, Jessica, and Rebecca Zissou. "NO PLACE TO CALL HOME." ​New York Times

Upfront,​ 11 Mar. 2019, p. 12+. ​Popular Culture Collection​,

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A578439685/PPOP?u=ncowl&sid=PPOP&xid=865c

d59f. Accessed 13 May 2019.

● "New grant aims to help homeless teens and young adults in Colorado Springs access mental health 

care." ​Gazette​ [Colorado Springs, CO], 12 Apr. 2019. ​General OneFile,​  

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A582092326/ITOF?u=ncowl&sid=ITOF&xid=47a3a457. Accessed 

14 May 2019. 

● Hamilton, Meredith. "Once-homeless teen to attend college." ​Christian Science Monitor​, 29 May 

2015. ​Popular Culture Collection,​  

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A415546517/PPOP?u=ncowl&sid=PPOP&xid=1a558f4f. Accessed 

2 May 2019.

● "Djimon Hounsou asks U.S. to help homeless youth." ​Jet​, 19 May 2008, p. 32. ​Popular Culture 

Collection​, 

http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A179422695/PPOP?u=ncowl&sid=PPOP&xid=20f2255d. 

Accessed 2 May 2019.