Hundreds of youth are experiencing homelessness in Kitsap and Pierce County.
During the 2018-19 school year…
625 students experienced homelessness in Kitsap County
691 unaccompanied students experienced homelessness in Pierce County
Unaccompanied means these students were not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian. These numbers only reflect youth in school. Data provided by Washington OSPI.
Many of these youth battle depression, isolation, addiction, and trauma.
Often battling to survive just for the day.
46% of youth experiencing homelessness were physically abused at their home. [2] About 80% of homeless youth age 12-21 used drugs or alcohol as a means to self-medicate to deal with traumatic experiences and abuse. [3]
More than one third of homeless youth engage in survival sex to get resources like food, shelter, or protection. 162,000 homeless youth are estimated to be victims of commercial sexual exploitation in the U.S. [2]
Suicide is the leading cause of death among unaccompanied homeless youth 10 to 24 years old in the United States. [4] Over 40% of homeless teens struggle with depression. [5]
But you can offer them a place to find safety, healing, and a home through The Coffee Oasis.
You can offer them a safe and encouraging place to live while they work towards sustainable housing and employment.
You can offer youth healing from trauma and freedom from addiction.
You can offer them the tools and resources they need to thrive.
Since 1997, The Coffee Oasis has offered hope and opportunity to youth 13-25 years old, in Washington state. Thousands of youth have found community and healing through The Coffee Oasis Youth Programs.
What is GivingTuesday?
GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement, unleashing the power of radical generosity to transform communities and the world.
GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Over the years, this idea has grown into a year-round global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. It is an opportunity for people around the world to come together to share what they have with those in need.
This GivingTuesday, together we can restore our community.
Together, we can create pathways of opportunity for youth to be restored in heart, soul, mind, and body.
SOURCES:
1. Washington OSPI.
2. National Network for Youth. “Unaccompanied Youth Fact Sheet.” https://www.nn4youth.org/wp-content/uploads/FactSheet_Unaccompanied_Youth.pdf
3. Greene, J.M., S.T. Ennett, and C.L. Ringwalt. “Substance use among runaway and homeless youth in three national samples.” American Journal of Public Health, 1997.
4. Pediatrics (April 2018) “Emotional Health Among Youth Experiencing Family Homelessness” (Authors: Andrew J. Barnes, Jace Gilbertson, and Debanjana Chatterjee). 141 (4) e20171767; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2017-1767
5. National Health Care for the Homeless Council (December 2017) Suicide and Homelessness: Data trends in suicide and mental health among homeless populations (Author: Brett Poe, Research Associate) Available at: https://nhchc.org/understanding-homelessness/fact-sheets/