Homeless Young Adults Gain New Shelter From the Storm

On Monday, July 11, 2011 Bridge Over Troubled Waters, a multi-service agency for homeless and at-risk youth, opened a shelter for homeless young adults between the ages of 18-24.  This is the first shelter of its kind in the Boston area, and way overdue if you ask me.  I know many people have their opinions about the homeless population and why individuals are homeless: “they” are all addicts or drunks, “they” are just lazy and don’t want to get a job, “they” are just collecting from the government, “they” are a bunch of criminals and crazy people.  I can assure you, from my five years working at Bridge Over Troubled Waters, no one wants to be homeless.  No one chooses to live on the streets or in a homeless shelter.  Almost without exception, there are circumstances that lead to someone becoming homeless, and in many cases the individual has no control over those circumstances. 

What I have heard in my time at Bridge are stories of young adults becoming homeless because their parents did not agree with their sexual orientation, or because they were being abused at home, or because their parents have a substance abuse problem or mental health issues, or because they become pregnant and their parents don’t agree with their choices regarding the pregnancy.  I have also heard the stories of young adults becoming homeless due to their own substance abuse or mental health issues that have not been addressed or properly treated.

I have watched young girls leave an abusive home life only to be victimized on the streets or in the shelters because they are naïve and easy prey to older individuals.  They enter the streets or shelters, and are so scared and vulnerable that they take to the person with nice words offering “protection,” only to later be pimped out by their protector.  I have listened to girls that have “turned lesbian” to avoid the advances of the men on the street.  I have watched young men and women cry and shake when told the only option is an adult wet shelter.  I have watched numerous young males and females come into our agency with a shine in their eyes only to watch them slowly become homeless and numb during their time on the streets.  We see young adults with no substance abuse problems develop them because the drugs and alcohol help them cope with and block out the realities of youth homelessness.

We need to be doing more for these young adults.  They do not belong in shelters or on the streets with older and often chronically homeless adults.  We need to let them know that people do care and believe in them.  When everyone they depended on has slammed the door on them, we need to help them open new doors.  The opening of this shelter is a small step in that direction.  We are providing them with a safe place to eat, shower, relax, and sleep.  We need to remember that these are young adults that have most often become homeless due to circumstances beyond their control. 

If you are under 18 and need help now, you can call 1-800-RUNAWAY. The Monday-Friday number for Bridge Over Troubled Waters is 617-423-9575. Dial extension 355 for TTY.