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Salt Lake City has what some experts are calling a "hidden secret."
On any given night, as many as 500 homeless young people are on the streets of the capital city. They have no permanent place to stay. Their number one objective, we're told, is survival. To do that, these youth who are between the ages of 15 and 22 do their best to blend in with others, hence their "hidden" status.
They are homeless and on the streets for a variety of reasons. Mostly, they come from broken homes and dysfunctional families, and the odds of their succeeding in society are definitely long.
Yet, there is hope.
Facilities such as the Homeless Youth Resource Center, operated by Volunteers of America have specialized teams reaching out and offering resources to homeless youth. Winning their trust is a challenge and getting them to progress toward education, employment and a semblance of normal living isn't easy.
The success rate isn't very high.
It's why KSL believes more needs to be done to prevent homelessness among young people in the first place. It is essential for the broader community to become aware of the seriousness of the problem. Then, perhaps, more energy and resources will be directed toward identifying and helping at risk children before they join the growing ranks of the homeless.
