MENASHA (NBC 26) — November is National Runaway and Homeless Youth Prevention Month and the Boys and Girls Club of the Fox Valley is raising awareness about the prevalence of youth homelessness in Northeast Wisconsin.
While it may come as a surprise that there are about 4.2 million youth facing homelessness each year, what may be even more surprising is the number in your area.
“Just in the Appleton Area School District alone they’re nearing 300 youth identified as homeless," said Katie Van Groll, the director of the Home Base program at the Boys and Girls Club. "It is an issue and they do need support and that support looks different for each family based on their situation.”
That’s why the Boys and Girls Club is raising awareness about the unseen population of homeless youth. Each year, the club’s Home Base program teams up with local community organizations for its Youth on the Move Initiative. The initiative is aimed at breaking the stigma of housing insecurity.
“A lot of times homelessness, especially when it’s related to our young people, it’s something that’s out of their control. It absolutely is not a choice," Van Groll said. "But it’s perceived as shameful so sometimes these kids don’t reach out and they don’t ask for help.”
Participating organizations around the Fox Valley have green footprints painted outside their buildings to let homeless youth know their organization is a safe place. Van Groll says the initiative has grown from 10 participants in its first year to over 50 participants this year.
“They are to highlight safe and supportive places in the community where youth can go for resources, or it might be a local business where they can just come in out of the cold and sit and warm up,” Van Groll said.
Throughout the month, the Boys and Girls Club will be working to connect youth facing housing insecurity with community organizations that are there to help. On November 17th, the Boys and Girls Club will host a Youth on the Move Fair to raise awareness about resources that are available. The club will also distribute care packages with basic essentials to youth in need.
“The care packages are to help families or unaccompanied youth offset that financial hardship of getting a lot of those materials that a lot of us take for granted everyday," Van Groll said. "It’s hygiene products and cleaning supplies. We also have some limited clothing items, duffle bags, backpacks, warmer clothing for the winter.”
Van Groll says the goal of the initiative is to let youth who are facing homelessness know that they're not alone.
“It’s important that we have an awareness in the community that they’re there," Van Groll said. "But also as a program that we’re out there and we’re a face and that the kids know we’re here so they can connect and get some of that help.”
Throughout November, the Boys and Girls Club will also be accepting gift card donations to local restaurants and stores to assist local youth facing housing insecurity. To learn where you can donate, you can visit bgclubfoxvalley.org.
