Homeless youth in Hillsborough County: Do we understand the problem?

If you saw a homeless youth walking the streets of Hillsborough County what would be the peculiar characteristics that led you to believe your assumption of homelessness was accurate? Typically we associate homelessness with tattered clothing, overgrown facial hair and overt exhibitions of panhandling and consumption of high octane lager. Is this what you saw in the presumed homeless youth?

Homeless youth are generally classified as young adults and adolescents between the ages of 13 and 24 and bear hidden behavioral traits that likely make them more elusive when compared to the anticipated images of the greater homeless sub-population. Adding to the problem of self-identification there is limited research and data within this specialized field of homelessness making it difficult to properly understand their true behavioral traits or capture accurate census data.

The severity and relevance of almost every social problem that contributes to blight and despair in our communities is often a perception measured by what we can see and what we talk about. 

And, to answer the introductory question regarding the peculiar characteristics that led you to identify the homeless youth -- there is no legitimate answer. 

How can I explain this?

Since the homeless youth conversation on the national, regional and even local level simply hasn't spilled over reaching a critical mass of awareness -- piercing the social boundary of public sentiment -- the problem doesn't exist in the conscious minds of the average consumer. And, without a conscious mind outraged at the despair of homeless youth living on the streets of our city it's highly unlikely anyone of us could identify their personal behavioral characteristics -- peculiar or otherwise.

In the weeks and months that will follow the Homeless Youth Task Force will begin to tackle some of these inherent problems in locating, identifying and rehabilitating homeless youth from the streets of our communities. It's an effort with little historical precedent and many unforeseen challenges.

However, the mustard seed of a beginning strategy leads us to believe that even homeless youth maintain their youthful social networks. And, it's these youthful networks that very likely could be the intermediary and informational conduit connecting an isolated homeless youth in need with the right people who are prepared to help.

I'm interested in your input and insight on the topic of locating, identifying and assisting homeless youth. Feel free to connect with me at facebook.com/deputystevendonaldson

Deputy Steven Donaldson
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office
Homeless Initiative
District III Office: (813) 247-033
Email: sdonalds@hcso.tamp.fl.us
Facebook.com/HelpCopsHelpUs 

HelpCopsHelpUs.org