Youth homelessness has been on the rise as the cost of living increases and many young people simply can’t afford housing. Even working a minimum wage job can make it difficult to cover the cost of rent in big cities like L.A. Young people that aren’t able to live at home with their parents can end up on the streets because they have nowhere else to turn.
Homeless youth often end up in temporary shelters while going to school and trying to work a part time job. One solution for the homeless youth provided by an organization in L.A. is to provide young people with affordable housing. Jovenes, a non profit group serving homeless youth, is helping alleviate the problem by buying houses and renting out rooms to young people at a price they can afford.
Many of the young people dealing with homeless still have goals and aspirations of becoming independent, finding sustainable careers and being able to afford their own home. Creating affordable housing provides an opportunity to help young people get on their feet until they eventually are able to move forward and reach their goals. Temporary shelters do not provide enough of an opportunity for youth that need a place where they can stay indefinitely until they become more independent.
Creating affordable housing by providing low rent rooms to homeless youth is a long term solution that can have a positive impact on the growing problem of homelessness in cities with high living costs. If young people are able to work, eat and survive then they can grow as individuals instead of falling into the endless cycle of poverty. Jovenes and other organizations working to reduce poverty and the homeless youth population are giving children and young adults a second chance at life.