The Warsaw High School Times

Graphic by Rita Pasiewicz

Don’t let the colourful cover fool you, we are far from achieving a future full of love and joy, which is why this article aims to spread awareness on this important subject, in hopes of one day making this world a little more vibrant and happy. According to the first two bottom layers of Maslow’s pyramid, a person’s basic needs include food, water, warmth, security and safety. As teenagers who are still under our parent’s wing, our day-to-day worries concentrate on upcoming exams, mental struggles or the need to feel accomplished. Moreover, as individuals who live in a safe and developed country like Poland, the thought of spending nights outside, in the cold, without the guarantee that you will eat or drink that day is unimaginable. Unfortunately, that is not the situation for a lot of people all over the world. This article will cover all the important topics around homeless youth and why it’s something today’s society should aim to combat.

In a nutshell, homeless youth refers to people between the ages of 13 and 24 who don’t have a safe place to stay and sleep. Homelessness is something our world has been battling for ages, first becoming a national issue in the second half of the 19th century. Together, as people, we are working towards being able to provide accommodation to people who aren’t able to afford a flat and essentially get a job to live what we perceive as the average life of a citizen. Alas, the number of homeless people doesn’t seem to be decreasing, considering the fact that it has been growing every year.

What causes youth homelessness:

A multitude of reasons can cause the absence of a roof above a young person’s head. Keep in mind that we are talking about children and teenagers around our age, so naturally, it’s vital to remember that a lot of the time their fate is decided by the actions of their parents or legal guardians. Among these factors, the most important ones include:

• Poverty and economic struggles: difficulty of finding jobs, caused by low levels of education and then absence of some standard human needs, especially in undeveloped or developing countries. This can make purchasing or even renting a small flat for the family difficult.
• Abusive parents or legal guardians: alcoholism and drug abuse is oftentimes the consequence of the lack of addiction treatment centres. This leads to the mental and physical abuse of a child, which creates a painful and toxic environment, leading them to want to escape an abusive situation. 
• Family disagreements or conflict: parents kick out children who might not meet their expectations and standards. The heartbreaking truth is that, around 40% of teens who come out to their parents (as in come out of “the closet” and open up about their sexuality) end up getting thrown out. Furthermore, disability or any other mental and physical problem can be seen as weakness and a waste of money by parents, leading them to get rid of the child that they consider to be a “burden”.
• Immigrants struggling to find asylum: the lack of accommodation and affordable housing options makes poor families who moved abroad in hopes of a brighter future, or due to war in their home-country, struggle with ensuring that they have a place to sleep.

How being homeless as a teenager affects an individual:

• Mental health: it takes a toll on the psychological state of a teenager, who at a vulnerable age has to fight to survive.
• Physical health: homelessness can have hugely detrimental impacts on a person’s physical health.
• Constantly having to be alert and aware can traumatize a child, potentially leading to PTSD due to the fact that they are non-stop in a dangerous environment full of crime.
• The overwhelming amount of stress caused by the dangerous lifestyle, that a person has to adapt to when being homeless, can lead to substance abuse. 
• Difficulty getting a good education. Something that we complain about on a daily basis and take for granted is something that children in many countries all over the world dream about.
• Difficulty finding legal jobs as a direct consequence of lacking proper education.

What is Covenant House and what does it do?

Founded in 1972, Covenant House is the largest nonprofit organization that aims to provide a safe place to stay and take care of young people between the ages of 16-21 who do not have a home or who are victims of human trafficking. Young people who receive help from Covenant House have food, health and wellness services, as well as a warm bed; this charity prioritizes showing teenagers in need of help unconditional love, alongside immediate and long-term support.

How can civilians help homeless youth?

Big organizations including Covenant House play major roles in changing the lives of many homeless young adults and children. However, that does not mean that you can not do anything to help. Actions that can be taken range from simple donation of clothes like jeans, hoodies, shoes etc. to organizing fundraisers. Voluntary work in your community or school that benefits homeless youth includes: helping provide warm meals, donating money to charities and helping in shelters. 

With us being in the midst of November, and the holiday season of giving approaching, let’s make it our aim to help the ones in need. Unfortunately, not everyone is privileged enough to spend the holidays with loved ones. In the wise words of Winston Churchill, “We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give”, so remember to always be kind and generous, and don’t expect anything in return. Hopefully this article opened up your approach to homelessness and encouraged you to assist people who might need a helping hand.