Week 2, Blog #5: Youth Homelessness

The similarities between the kids on skid row that are depicted in the On Skid Row video and the kids depicted in the article From Home to Street are that they have spent their lives in abuse situations, perhaps a parent-less or unsupervised home life, drugs, sex , alcohol, lack of caring and behavioral problems are are common causes and symptoms keeping kids tied into poverty.  A prevalent difference between the kids on skid row and runaways is that most kids on skid row were born into poverty and had no choice but to remain in poverty vs. making the decision to leave home to escape abuse, which seems like the only alternative behind the decision to live on the streets. In either situation it is important to note that kids are there because there because of their parents (or lack of parents).

Many times it is noted in both the videos and the article that poverty seems to affect the African American population in astonishing numbers vs. the number of Caucasians who are on skid row or  have left home to live on the streets.  Many of them have no opportunity to make money without drug involvement.  In the video it tells the story of how Franklin witnessed  the murder of his neighbor, who was stabbed 15 or more times, when he was only 14 years of age.  These kids that are forced to live in these areas are often times exposed to violence at such an early age that it mentally affects them for life.


Works Cited:

Hyde, J. (2005). From home to street: Understanding young people's transitions into homelessness. Journal of Adolescence , 28 (2), 171-83

Film: On Skid Row - Kids Link TV (2007)