Runaway and Homeless Youth Act

Runaway and Homeless Youth Act

Introduction

Homelessness and runaway among youth in today's depressed and stressful world has become a serious concern. Many policies and social services are being provided by social care organizations in order to eliminate this serious issue from the society. Homeless young people are also known as unaccompanied youth. These homeless people experience lack in parental, institutional or foster care. This negligence towards their care make psychologically disturbed, and they leave their homes (Liu, n.d.). According to the study of National Runaway Switchboard, it has been estimated that on a particular night, there are nearly 1.3 million homeless young people who are living on the streets, with strangers, with friends or in abandoned buildings unsupervised. These homeless young people are at high risk for sexual exploitation, physical abuse, substance abuse, death and mental health disabilities (Liu, n.d.). The study of National Runaway Switchboard has calculated that nearly 5000 homeless young people die each year due to illness, suicide or assault.

Current data suggests that the present era of recession has been the main reason of increment in runaway and homeless young people (Liu, n.d.). Between the period of 2008 and 2005, researchers observed that 200 % increment in calls from young people denoting economic and financial causes for becoming homeless or for running away from their home. Study of the Switchboard also informed that there has been the increment in such homeless young people who have been kicked out of their home. In the school district's survey of 2008, survey proved that there has also been increment in number of such students who are homeless and runaway (Liu, n.d.). However, it is essential to observe that accurate measurement of a number of runaway and homeless young people has become difficult because of the lack of mobility and standard methodology of the homeless and runaway population. This paper intends to discuss the policy of Runaway and Homeless Youth Act which is present for resolving this serious issue of homelessness among young people. This paper also intends to discuss the history of the policy, impacts or effects of the policy, current status of the policy and relationship of the policy to social work practice with transitional youth (Liu, n.d.).

Discussion

History of the Policy

The policy of Runaway and Homeless Youth Act helps in preventing exploitation and destruction of young people on the streets. Furthermore, the policy will also help in supporting reconnection to their schools, families, housing options and family. Many studies have estimated that there has been increment in homelessness and runaway of young people in recent years. Research shows that nearly 1 out of 7 young people among the ages of 18 and 10 will runs away and leave their homes (Foster, 2008). Out of these homeless and runaway people, nearly 75 % of runaways are related to females. Further estimation shows that nearly 6 to 22 % of the female are pregnant homeless girls. Study illustrates that nearly 20 to 40 % of ...