THE OBSERVATION BOOTH
OP / ED & PHOTO CREDITS ANDREA DIALECT
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Age and a strong physique were his only sins. He’d been taken out of school a couple of weeks shy of his twelfth birthday, and although he yearned to go, he knew that the show of emotion brought about grave consequences. So, when that little, old, rickety bus was seen coming up that back road to collect his younger siblings (the females, having been the right gender, and the others, males of the proper age), he hid himself. Past occurrences always reminded him that he’d made that mistake before . . .
ONE IN THE BUSH
When numbers of surplus spilled off the lips of others as a means of support, I’d shun the whispers of sarcasm that were playing in my head, while gripping my stomach to buffer the tickles of a painful humor. Certainly, the time would come when the little eyes that gazed up at me in total dependency would grow up. Now, with a couple of those apron strings having been cut, I thought it was somewhat safe to say that my time had come; I’d already booked myself a trip to rendezvous with self-indulgence.
I was determined that nothing would spoil this trip, but I have yet to carry out my plans, and they’ve already been sabotaged. Like many others, I found it easy to overlook the crisis we are in regarding our youth. After raising my own, I felt I had done what was required of me, which made it all justifiable. See no evil, hear no evil, speak none was my method of approach. Had I known that one man’s story would connect me to such an ordeal, in that case, I would have used the formula!
Yet now, in my being somewhat curious, I wonder if currently, from his position, this man still finds the silence of that little girl peering through those bushes all those dreadfully cold winter mornings to be an act of kindness – her assuring eyes a promise of comfort, or an accomplice who’d waltz with him into a disappointing life. Clearly, his present state forces me to believe that a tattletale can be of good use; furthermore, accountability can be pretty convincing, especially when silence has become a noose around your neck.
Even if I were to squander all my hard-earned money (taking into consideration the size of my humble nest egg) and, in spite of it, still having to borrow and beg the rest, I might have enough to buy myself an aesthetically appealing plot of aloofness. I know for certain that the compelling force of reality is beyond restraint. Oh, how I long for green grass and birds chirping at my window at my early rising. Any ole escape will do, be it mountainscape, landscape, or seascape; besides, who wants to be yanked out of sleep mid-slumber, rudely awakened in a scene where ruckus is obligatory and ugliness oftentimes commonplace?
Shielded only by their wounded egos, ours run for cover, forced to live in the underbrush of an existence. No matter the theatrics, they remain hopeful when searchingly gazing out at us, using every tactic imaginable to make us aware of their plight. But we overlook the signals of distress, never lending a hand, and hope soon fades.
Get a grip! Neither our silence nor our useless babble is considered an act of kindness. Lack of focus makes “the nuances of facial expressions and body language” obvious; thus, once again, our brief sentiments of affection add insult to injury, and our assuring eyes are certainly not of comfort.
We’ve been idling here for way too long. All the same, we still misinterpret age to be an indicator of maturity and/or competency, and we automatically assume strength when we look at physique. “No child left behind” is a helluva catchphrase, especially when, seemingly, the majority ain’t expected to leave. But if we are to continue as a people, they must survive.
Truth of the matter is, somebody’s just gonna have to stay! And all the self-care sermons, food packages, and monies in the world left or sent ain’t gonna do a bit of good if those most capable don’t remain here (be it mentally, spiritually, or physically) to divvy the stuff up . . .
Boy, do I want to go. I’ve already booked the trip, for just me, myself, and I. But I know in my heart of hearts that, now that I know they are there [in the underbrush] . . . I can’t leave!
The Observation Booth is utilized as a space for Andrea Dialect to stumble through, which aids in life and brand development. It can also be used by readers, subjects, and features to assist or advance our world or their own. It is a peek into one’s world from the outside. It is also for the development of content.
Everything printed here is in draft form; thus, error is welcomed and to be expected. Everything is constantly evolving, is her mantra. Seeing the work in printed format is the initial step and is quite valuable and therapeutic for developing all forms. Like Everything, Andrea Dialect uses this space as a test lab for test study and a test subject.
Here you will also find influencers, professionals, and muses who are considered “clay” who lend their image to change as doing us proud who are contributors to the upward progress of human progress. It is a platform for the growth, inspiration, motivation, and development of herself, her subjects, and her readers. Enjoy!
DID YOU KNOW….
Source: www.ncsl.org
Each year, an estimated 4.2 million youth and young adults experience homelessness in the United States, 700,000 of which are unaccompanied minors – meaning they are not part of a family or accompanied by a parent or guardian. These estimates indicate that approximately one in 10 adults ages 18 to 25, and one in 30 youth ages 13 to 17 will experience homelessness each year.
This is likely an undercount due to varying definitions of homelessness and challenges with contacting unhoused people, particularly unhoused youth. Homelessness is often hidden among youth and young adults since many are not in shelters and may transition between temporary sleeping arrangements with friends or acquaintances. National survey data reflects that homelessness affects youth living in rural, suburban and urban communities at similar rates.
Youth homelessness is a complex issue that intersects with multiple public and private entities. To deliver effective services for youth experiencing homelessness, state legislators can consider coordinating with municipal governments and others including state agencies, advocates, legal and health care professionals, philanthropic organizations, people who have experienced homelessness and other stakeholders.
Key Takeaways
- Many youth experiencing homelessness who have been in foster care consider their experience in the foster system as the beginning of their homelessness.
- According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, one in three teens on the street will be lured into prostitution within 48 hours of leaving home.
- States have addressed the intersection between youth homelessness and juvenile justice involvement in many ways, including redefining status offenses, decriminalizing the survival aspects of being homeless (e.g., sleeping in public) and regulating how youth are discharged from the juvenile justice system.
Definitions
Accurately defining the issue of youth homelessness is a challenge. The defined age ranges for a “youth” or “young adult” vary across and within federal agencies and state governments. This makes it difficult to accurately measure the scope of and response to youth experiencing homelessness.
Federal Definitions
The Department of Housing and Urban Development applies a specific categorical definition to unaccompanied youth under age 25. The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, used in connection with assistance programs administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, defines homeless youth as unaccompanied individuals under age 21. The Department of Education, however, provides resources to students experiencing homelessness and determines eligibility based on the definition outlined in the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
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