According to Yusef, however, these programs often do not have the space to accommodate all of the homeless youth living in New York. When youth are not able to acquire housing themselves and overstay their welcome at their friend's homes, they are forced to look for youth housing programs such as: transitional Independent living, which provides homeless youth ages 16-20 with longer-term shelter and support and crisis shelters, borough-based drop-in centers which provide youth up to the age of 24 with food, clothing and immediate shelter. I spent my life doing what I had to do to leave the shelter.' I went to school and I did what I had to do. 'I told myself one day I will leave my situation. Although she felt like her 'education was delayed by constantly moving,' Saunders was able to use her experience and talents to gain scholarships to assure that for the next four years, she has a place to call home. My mom made it hard for me to make friends or have an education.' Saunders knew that her only hope would be getting into college. 'My mom is abusive because she was severely abused in her life. For Alyssa Saunders, it was a combination of all three, specifically her mother's mental instability. They become displaced due to familial, residential or financial instability. Homeless youths face sexual and physical abuse, addiction or neglect. Homeless youths often leave their homes due to emotionally or physically unsafe homes. She can finally sleep certain of where she will lay her head the next day.Īccording to the National Center for Housing and Child Welfare, five to seven percent of American youth face homelessness. Living in her college dormitory provides a serenity that has been foreign to her since birth. Being a freshman in college is a completely new and exciting experience for reasons other than independence or freedom. From birth, Alyssa Saunders and her family of five moved from shelter to shelter.

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