The Problem
The Child Welfare League of America estimates that each year 20,000 children in our nation turn 18- years-old with no viable family support system. For all intent and purposes, they are alone in the world.
In Allegheny County, KidsVoice estimates 1,000 teens each year need independent living services.
- 80% of the teens reaching age 18 leave the child welfare system even
though education, housing and healthcare support is available.
- 50% reaching age 18 don't graduate from high school.
- 40% of the females have babies within four years.
- 50% of the males end up in the criminal justice system.
Compounding the problem of teenage homelessness is a myriad of physical, emotional
and psychological challenges confronting young people today who are attempting to
emerge from the system with some semblance of a positive self image and a
meaningful direction. The challenges include physical problems stemming from abuse
or neglect, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, ADHD behavior,
obsessive-compulsive disorder and oppositional defiant disorder. In addition, they lack
basic skills required for even the most menial of jobs. They face all the pressures of our
21st Century society that challenge the best of teens from "normal"family situations-violence,
racism, gangs and cults, drugs and the temptation to surrender to a life of crime.
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