INTRODUCTION
YOUTH HOMELESSNESS IN THE UNITED STATES Exploitation, alienation, poverty, dis empowerment, fragmenting and debilitating labor, production for the profit of a few — much less harsh homelessness, starvation, and degradation — are not like gravity. They arise from institutional relations established by human beings. New institutions, also established by human beings, can generate other vastly superior outcomes. Defining and working to attain those new institutions ought to be our economic agenda. (Albert, 2010, Empower Quotes, para.1) Youth homelessness has become a significant issue that is rampant across the U.S. It has stolen and ruined the lives of many American youths who will no longer exist if they are not given the proper care. Approximately more than 1.6 million children in the U.S. experience homelessness, meaning that one in 45 children are homeless each year (Bassuk, Murphy, Coupe, Kenney &, Beach, 2010, p.9). Aside from the U.S., Michigan itself has been ranked the nation's fourth highest increase just in the past decade (Shellenbarger, 2014). Homelessness comes with a price: not only are they on their own facing this world alone, but they begin to develop psychological and emotional turmoil that have a significant impact on their lives, leading them to undesirable paths. This is shocking, yet an eye opener to how and what this world has become. If we were to follow the Prophet's (PBUH) teachings that are mentioned in various ahadith and clear our hearts and minds from all the false statements, we could all work together to fix what we ruined and go back to what we had established in the first place. We must establish justice and equality for all so that our people and youth do not suffer because of our selfishness and blindness. Therefore, the United States as a society must ensure that today’s youth are provided basic rights – such as education, healthcare, food, water, and shelter – to secure the future of our generation and to change the broken paths into concrete futures. MAIN POINTS Throughout my research paper I will be discussing and covering many concepts that relate to youth homelessness . I will start off by answering, What constitutes youth homelessness? This will include definitions and statistics of youth homelessness.Second, I will explain and analyze why homelessness exists, why are there children and teens who are on the streets, and what was the reason behind them being homeless .I will later include the psychological and emotional stages that have a significant impact on their lives. I will also explain the symptoms that have become a result of being homeless .Aside from the reason why, I will discuss the bigger issue, which is the need of help from our government and our communities . I will discuss the pros and cons that the government has done to help contribute to ending or at the very least limiting the amount of homeless youth out there. Finally I will state many possible ways to help ,and to stand together united like our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) taught us, to take care of the poor and people in need and to thrive in helping the unfortunate so that we may be rewarded in the hereafter. |
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