| Of the millions of Americans who annually become or remain homeless, over one third are youth, becoming homeless either by running away or by being "thrown away" by parents or other caregivers. On the streets, they experience victimization, exploitation, assault, mental and physical trauma, and some commit crimes. While many studies focus on how to assess individual and community risks for homelessness and make recommendations, this study takes a strengths-based approach. It explores assets that were created in Hollywood, California to serve its homeless youth. Known as social capital, this includes availability of programs that help to transition youth from homeless to housed, a political atmosphere that allocates resources for social programs, and responsive and culturally appropriate interventions. It was found that advocacy within the community was essential to meet the needs of its homeless youth. |
