State can help kids get second chance

Imagine as a teenager having no place to stay, no place to get warm, no place to call home.

And then imagine finding a place that might help, only to be turned away because there is no more room.

Regardless of the reason -- teenage immaturity, parental neglect or some other cause -- the fact is that most homeless youths in Illinois do not receive the proper help, according to a recent report by the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless and highlighted by Daily Herald staff writer Emily Krone in a story Sunday.

According to that Chicago coalition report, 2,895 homeless youths were served by providers in 2007 in Illinois. But they had to turn away 3,088 mostly because of a lack of resources.

And that's just the numbers of homeless youths that seek help. A 2005 study showed there were nearly 25,000 unaccompanied youths in Illinois, defined as anyone younger than 24 who lacks a safe and stable living situation and is not in the care of a parent or guardian.

While a large portion are located in Chicago, this is not just an urban problem, as Krone's report showed.

"I think that people see DuPage County as being affluent … and they don't think about youth homelessness," said Gail Hoffman, director of Wheaton Youth Outreach, which serves homeless women, pregnant teens and young mothers. "It's always surprising to them how many phone calls we get," she said.

The staggering numbers statewide are why the state Legislature is considering a bill that would add $7 million to the state Department of Human Services budget to provide shelter, transitional housing and employment assistance for unaccompanied youths. It sounds like a lot, but the coalition estimates current providers need $5.5 million more than they receive now to pay for unmet needs. And there are areas where new programs are needed.

Yes, the state needs to weigh all its priorities when determining its financial needs. But keeping these young people off the streets and giving them hope for a future should be near the top of that list.

"There's a lot of need for redirection and second chances," said Deborah Carr, residential program director for NCO Family Services, a DuPage County-based program for homeless teens that provides shelter, counseling, structure and life-skills training. "We're all about second chances."

The coalition report shows these programs work. Eighty-seven percent of youths who exited the programs in 2007 moved into safe, stable housing; 36 percent got a job and 42 percent enrolled in or completed high school or an equivalent GED program.

"They're able to give youths the tools they need," said Daria Mueller, a policy specialist with the Chicago coalition. "The main problem is that way too many youths aren't getting in the door."

That needs to change and we urge the Legislature to send more state assistance to fund these programs and get these kids the help they need.