Overcoming Youth Homelessness
A conversation with Tammy Brown, our Homeless Prevention Specialist, to discuss the experiences and obstacles of homeless youth and how we work with them to provide resources and hope.
How did you start working with homeless youth?
I have been a social worker for more than 20 years. My journey helping people experiencing homelessness started when I took a seasonal position at a 24-hour shelter in Beaverton that housed 30 people. I enjoyed seeing the pieces coming together for the younger people at the shelter through access to resources such as transitional housing, treatment programs and housing placement services. It was awesome to see their successes as they made real changes and found housing options.
Why is Homeless Prevention an important program?
Homeless prevention, especially for youth, is important to prevent them from experiencing chronic homelessness throughout their later years into adulthood. My position provides hope, information and resources in a proactive manner that helps young people avoid being in a situation where they have no place to sleep and live safely. I work with them when they are on the brink of being homeless and this prevention work is critical and will shift the trajectory of their lives.
What is the primary focus of your work?
I work in three main areas:
1) I focus on young people who are about to experience homelessness.
2) I canvas areas where young people frequent to hang flyers about the services available.
3) I spend time with staff at community resource centers and other organizations to make sure they are aware of the homeless prevention services at Boys & Girls Aid.
What are the biggest obstacles for youth experiencing homelessness?
Homeless youth feel lost and there is no real system of care to help them. They genuinely don’t know where to go for help for their specific needs. Family relationships also change for youth as they get older, and this tends to increase the risk of them being kicked out of the home. Families who are already in crisis see the older youth as ‘old enough’ to deal with the real world. Other factors such as a youth’s past evictions, no rental history, or criminal background can be big barriers to safe housing solutions.
Homeless youth are young and learning. If they don’t know better, they can’t do better; they haven’t had the role modeling they need to find success. They need someone to come alongside them, to mentor and teach them; making it a less overwhelming process to handle on their own. They also need help with basic life skills such as budgeting, how to rent and be a good renter. They need encouragement to stay in school or if they are done with school, help on how to find a job that can help generate enough income for housing whether that be alone or with a roommate.
Can you share a story about a client’s success utilizing the resources we offer and your help?
I worked with a young woman who had a one-week-old infant and another child under two. She reached out because she had back rent due, and she could not return to work yet after having her baby. There was no way she could pay her back rent, let alone her current rent. The Homeless Prevention Program assisted her with paying her back rent. We helped her with other support and resources, and she was able to go back to work, maintain her housing and continue paying her current rent. Just having someone to talk to and assist financially gave her encouragement and help to move past what could have been a potential eviction causing more debt and the loss of a home for her and her children. Mostly, I find the young people I work with need a break, someone to help with one thing to make their lives easier and have some guidance. Life looks better when you know you can live safely with your children.
What is the #1 thing you want people to know about homeless youth?
Homeless youth are not criminals, and they aren’t all mentally unstable or addicts. They have been living in a pool of circumstances that are mostly not their doing. Homeless youth have been homeless with their families for a long time. Some kids have been in and out of homelessness for a decade before they find themselves homeless as young adults. They have a lifetime of experiences that are not stable. They have learned to get by, but they do want better for themselves. Youth who are homeless have dreams of working jobs where they can live safely. They want to have families of their own and they want to make a meaningful impact in the community.