Among countries who keep a count of homeless children under 18, India has the highest rate of street children per capita, with 1 homeless child per 61 residents. Egypt is next with 1 per 110, then Pakistan (1 per 120), Kenya (1 per 133), Russia (1 per 141), and Congo (1 per 148).
The per capita rate of child homelessness in the US is 1 per 245 residents. This is worse than the Philippines (1 per 360), Honduras (1 per 370), Jamaica (1 per 419), Uruguay (1 per 1,000), and Morocco (1 per 1066). Germany , in contrast, has 1 homeless child per 4,100 residents.
Why American Teens Become Homeless
Approximately fifty percent of homeless teenagers wind up on the streets due to conflict with their parents. Another twenty percent are there due to a breakdown of their foster care placement. Others are homeless because their parents are homeless.
Of teenagers made homeless by family conflict, forty percent are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transsexual teens whose parents refuse to accept their sexuality (25% of LGBT teens are rejected by their parents). Another large proportion are victims of physical, sexual and/or emotional abuse. Forty percent of homeless teenagers report being beaten. Twenty-five percent report a history of sexual abuse. Forty percent have parents who are mentally ill or who have substance abuse problems. Ten percent have run away because they're pregnant. Some leave home because of alcohol and drug problems of their own.
Many homeless teens work at minimum wage jobs that don't pay enough for an apartment. However faced with a 24.9% unemployment rate, most face long term unemployment.
Good links regarding teen homelessness:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_children
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/teen-angst/201101/homeless-teens
http://www.shelterhouse.on.ca/article/youth-homelessness-147.asp
http://ncfy.acf.hhs.gov/tools/exchange/serving-youth-economic-downturn/overrepresented
http://ncfy.acf.hhs.gov/tools/exchange/serving-youth-economic-downturn/count
http://www.dosomething.org/actnow/tipsandtools/background-11-causes-teen-homelessness
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