Homelessness The Social Impact - 1308 Words

Oh you live in Longview, Washington? A term that is stated way to often when someone claims they live there. Disproportionate assumptions of the town are often made by those who usually have never even stepped foot in Longview. Before Washington passed a law forbidding panhandling, it wasn t an unusual sight to see a homeless person on the side of the road holding a sign begging for change. What Longview, Washington needs is a strong structured program, that helps transition homeless not only gets homeless off the streets but also keeps them off. It’s important, especially to give help to the young, encouraging and directing them into the right path. The youth who are out of home, dealing with mental illness, or struggling with†¦show more content†¦Currently Vancouver Washington offers a program designed to assist the youth who struggle with homeless and mental health called Options Youth house. As stated on the our services website, â€Å"the youth house is available to youth under the age of 24, who are homeless, living in unstable environments or struggling with mental health† (Our Services). They provide a social worker who works one on one with individuals designing a plan that best fits each individual’s needs. For the youth who are struggling with mental illness they provide support not only from a counselor, but also from a licensed psychologist who can assist with any medications that may be needed. As mentioned in our services, youth who struggle with mental illnesses that go untreate d are at higher risk for becoming homeless or struggle with drug addiction (Our Services). Having the opportunity to work on one with a counselor and social worker exposes the youth how to learn new coping skills in a healthy manor. They also provide support from an employment specialist, who is able to help with schooling, resume, work resources and more. A program like this would be very beneficial to Longview’s youth. A program that offers services like the youth house shouldn’t just end at the age of 24. There should be a program that goes a step even further and offers help to the adults who are struggling with homelessness, unstable living situations, and mental illnesses! As explained