Young Lawyers Division
| Jurisdiction | Utah,United States |
| Citation | Vol. 29 No. 3 Pg. 27 |
| Pages | 27 |
| Publication year | 2016 |
May, 2016
Young Lawyers Division
Advocating for Homeless Youth
Nicole Lowe, J.
You see them throughout the city, huddled in corners with their backpacks, sleeping bags, and vacant expressions. At times you stumble across their tents and tarp lean-tos when you are out for a walk in a park or paved trail hand-in-hand with a loved one. Have you ever wondered how these kids ended up on the streets or why they have nowhere to go?
Many people's initial thought is the homeless (youth or otherwise) are homeless because they are lazy, drug addicts, and have serious mental health issues. This is a simplistic view of the problem and of people who find themselves homeless. Mental health concerns, substance abuse, and lack of motivation cut across cultures and socioeconomic class in Utah.
Youth who find themselves homeless are some of the most vulnerable and most valuable people we have in the state of Utah and across the nation. One problem is most people don't see them as such. Most people, walk right by with their head down, thinking "please don't talk to me," and "please don't ask me for money." Passersby don't make eye contact, and they definitely don't speak with the youth.
Making a difference in the lives of homeless youth will not only change your life but holds the potential to change the lives of thousands. Any one of these kids could be the one who will propose an idea that will change global warming, reduce hunger among children in poverty, or create a solution to the struggles of inner city youth. They could become the doctor who saves the life of your grandchild or a teacher who makes effortless connections with children who have autism or Down syndrome.
You just don't know what they are capable of and if you don't do anything to help them, you will never find out. None of us will.
I know of this hidden potential because I was a homeless youth from the age of thirteen to sixteen. I had that vacant look. My experiences are not exceptional among homeless youth. I've struggled with depression. I've been a high school dropout, drug addict, a victim of rape, a victim of domestic violence, a drug dealer, a member of a cult, and a runaway. I begged for money and slept in parks, behind bars, in boxes, and under overpasses.
My story is terrifying and heart wrenching, but most of all it's full of hope. I've turned what could have been a story ending with me strung out on drugs or dead into something so much more.
I found myself pregnant after...
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