I am the youngest of three girls born to a middle class Jewish family in Bellevue. My upbringing was as a working class family; both my parents were working parents who taught me at an early age the importance of a strong work ethic. I really didn't fit in any of the social groups in high school and could hardly wait until I graduated. My life really took meaning when I turned 18 and had the opportunity to live abroad in Israel for a year. I believe it was here that began my path of activism and social justice.
Seventeen years later, after earning my teachers certificate, I had the opportunity to teach homeless and runaway kids in a drop-in setting. It was 1995, during the height of the Becca Bill, a law which assists runaway children in Washington. With a group of homeless and runaway kids, we challenged the city and state about decisions that were made that impacted these kids.
More than 1,500 people came to a concert and a rally that addressed the lack of adequate services for homeless youth. It was entitled "Peace for the Streets by Kids from the Streets." The kids were full of passion and my love for social change and empowerment was again ignited. Peace for the Streets by Kids from the Streets (PSKS) was founded that same year and I left teaching and became PSKS's part-time executive director.
In this position, I have seen how homelessness is having a profound impact on our youth and our community. Since 1998, 16 young lives have been lost to Seattle's streets from heroin overdose, suicide, car accidents, drowning, diabetic coma and three killings. I knew them all. They were leaders in their own rights, and they died too young.
In 2002, PSKS had a particularly tragic loss. Nicholas "Rooster" Helhowski was attacked on his way home to his transitional home. He had worked himself off the street to become an AmeriCorps member only to be murdered six months later. I have never healed from this tragedy. When Rooster asked me to help him get off the street and apply for an AmeriCorps position here at PSKS, I offered him my couch during the transition. This young man taught me so much and influenced the direction of PSKS and my life personally.
Another disturbing trend is that we are seeing lifers - young people who have been homeless for more than five years, some up to 12 years - who are missing their most important development years. Some of our participants enter street life as young as 12 years old and are now exiting the streets at 24-27 years old. They don't have the basic skills to be successful. Things we learn from our schools aand families, such as budgeting, social skills, etc. are not taught to these young people.
These are resilient people and survivors, but once they get off the streets there is isolation and lack of community for them. The recidivism rate (for becoming homeless again) is as high as repeated offenders going in and out of jail. There is also a correlation between homelessness and foster children, and research shows that as many as one in three foster children who, once they turn 18 and age out of foster care, will be homeless by the time they're 21.
As community members, we must help the generation that is getting off the streets become productive members of society.
The young people coming through the doors of PSKS are looking for a sense of community, self-esteem and a place in society, and we need to do more for them. The Committee to End Homelessness is a great example of homeless organizations, religious communities, private and public, civic and government agencies coming together for a common good. PSKS has been an active member of the CEH and embraces the goals to help in the transition from homelessness to being housed coupled with valuable resources and support to be successful.
During National Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week, consider what you can do to help a young person get off the streets and work toward something positive in their lives.
National Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week continues through Saturday, Nov. 17.
Elaine Simons is the executive director of Peace for the Streets by Kids from the Streets. PSKS is located at 1814 Summit Ave. Reach them at 726-8500 or www.psks.org.[[In-content Ad]]
