Growing up, I looked forward to the back to school season; I was excited to see my friends, I was excited to get new clothes and shoes, I was even excited (some days) to go to bed early like I was awaiting the arrival of Santa in August. The good ol days, some might say. At no point in my childhood can I recall a time in which I worried about where my next meal would come from (I learned how to make spaghetti at a young age, even) and although we received an eviction notice somewhere along the road, there wasn't a time, that I can recall, where I thought we would actually be forced to live on the streets.
Times have changed.
Nowadays, children are very aware of the possibilities of one day not having anywhere to go and the reality is, many of us are one paycheck away from being in a tough situation ourselves. Youth nowadays know where shelters are. They know how to find food pantries. They are fully aware that they have friends who live in cars. At the same time, there are those who do not realize sleeping on the couch at a family member's or friend's is also considered to be homeless as HUD defines homelessness as a lack of a "... fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence". These are not the good ol days for many young people, where a caring adult would probe in search of answers to understand the change of behavior in a classroom; where a caring adult would provide dinner to the neighbor's kid who seemed to always stay just long enough to be invited to have a seat; where sleepovers, with parent approvals, were more than an opportunity to build friendship but an opportunity to feel the embrace of a village.
Adulting has changed.
Youth are beginning to "adult" at earlier stages as time goes. They are no longer in search of the next extra curricular activity or trying out for sports because they are in search of work opportunities and are charged with navigating other areas of family support if their guardians don't speak English.
To say times have changed is an understatement.
Admittedly so, I'm not a big fan of asking for help but even as an adult when I've felt a bit .. stuck(?) I've looked around for that adult; someone who could step in and provide support, guidance, a word of encouragement only to soon after say to myself "You are the adult you've been waiting for!" As a parent, a service provider, a previous teen center director, an educator, I often ask myself how many young people find themselves serving as that adult they've been looking for and what more can we do in shelter spaces to allow them to feel the warm embrace of their community. It is a weird thought, but a rabbit hole I go down nonetheless: young people within shelters, although it may not feel like it, have an advantage on some levels. Let me explain this thought... I imagine you know Meryl's Safe Haven was created to provide shelter and resources to young people who have aged and are aging out of the foster care system between the ages of 18 - 24, an age where one might still be in school or considering going back to school. Imagine trying to do homework in a car (if you're lucky enough to have one); imagine trying to study on an empty stomach - in or out of the classroom; imagine the number of excuses you come up with to avoid inviting anyone to your home because you don't have one. This is the reality for young people who are not apart of a family unit and are experiencing homelessness. Another harsh reality is there are very limited resources for this population, trust me, I've been in search of them to continue to build MSH's Transitional Youth Empowerment program but also to share with young people as the requests come in.
Regrettably, it is evident that many young individuals look forward to this time of the year and the resumption of school primarily because it ensures them two meals. Conversely, for some, it signifies a return to a challenging situation that is unsustainable without proper shelter and support, especially when they lack an adult figure to offer guidance.
As a nonprofit organization dedicated to sourcing resources, fostering partnerships, and engaging with stakeholders in the youth community, I encounter days of both encouragement and discouragement. There are instances when I witness a genuine understanding of our mission, leading to valuable alliances that create connections and offer opportunities. However, there are also occasions where individuals grasp the purpose of our organization but opt to act as gatekeepers of resources. Despite challenges, the support and collaboration we receive from those who share our vision keep us motivated and dedicated to our cause and it is a constant reminder to us to continue to pay it forward.
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