Document Type

Opinion

Publication Date

5-29-2014

Department 1

English

Abstract

America is in immediate danger of throwing away a vast number of our young people; these are kids who have fallen through the gaping holes in our social services net and have landed on our streets. They roam this country by the thousands in search of simple necessities such as food and a warm place to sleep, often trading their bodies in exchange for the most basic of human rights. In the words of Michael Stoops, Director of Community Organizing at the National Coalition for the Homeless in Washington, DC, "there is a dire need for more shelter beds for homeless youth." In fact, we are in danger of producing another "Lost Generation," and the process is fueled by our own apathy, neglect, and lack of decisive action. Furthermore, it is a damning testimony of abiding intolerance in our society that LGBT young people are wildly disproportionally represented among homeless youth in America. [excerpt]

Required Publisher's Statement

This piece originally appeared on the Huffington Post blog:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/christopher-fee/a-lost-generation_b_5400625.html

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