“David has been homeless since the age of 12. He first started “couch surfing”, but by age 17 David ran out of places to visit and ended up on the streets.

Even while living on the streets, David worked hard to stay in school. A social worker eventually connected with David and let him know about the youth shelter where he currently lives.

Penny says he has been hopping trains for a few months now, but he has been for almost a year. Jimi has been traveling for the better part of two years. She took a few months to “kick it” in Los Angeles, but she says it’s good to be back traveling and in New Orleans.

Travelers are a group of homeless youth that – travel. It’s a nomadic lifestyle where they find community with others and purpose. Many were abused or neglected as children. Often thrown away by their parents, fellow travelers become their family, and drug use helps to ease the pain of childhood trauma.

It was down to 42°f last night in Winnipeg. With the wind, I am sure it felt much colder. Katie said she didn’t sleep much. She mostly walked around to stay warm. As a result of a few bad situations and flawed relationships, Katie has been living on the streets since last March.”[1]

Surprised? Don’t be.

Did you Know:

Low self-esteem is a thinking disorder in which individuals view him/herself as inadequate, unlovable, and/or incompetent. Once formed, this negative view permeates every thought, producing faulty assumptions and ongoing self-defeating behavior.

In the U.S., 25% of high school girls have been abused physically or sexually. Teen girls who are abused this way are 6 times more likely to become pregnant or contract a sexually transmitted infection (STI).

33% of adolescents in America are a victim to sexual, physical, verbal, or emotional dating abuse

Over 70% of girls age 15 to 17 avoid normal daily activities, such as attending school, when they feel bad about their looks.

More than 40% of boys in middle school and high school regularly exercise with the goal of increasing muscle mass.

75% of girls with low self-esteem reported engaging in negative activities like cutting, bullying, smoking, drinking, or disordered eating.

 What if you could positively impact and improve the quality of life of young people in the US? What would you do?

An agency called “Second Story” gets it and Jade Leedham is here to share the story. Second Story understands the many shades of brokenness in these kids! They are not quick to judge but to reach out, provide for, offer solutions, support creatively problem solve.  Most importantly, Second Story represents the reality that what has happened to these kids is not who they are.

[1] https://invisiblepeople.tv/2013/07/