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OUR LIVES THROUGH

Our Lives Through a Lens


Michlin Durazo
HD361
June 22, 2105
Elizabeth Robinson

OUR LIVES THROUGH

Our Lives Through a Lens


When someone mentions homelessness, the vision that first comes to mind for many people
is possibly a dirty unshaven man on a corner holding a sign, asking for change. Or maybe it is
the vision of a woman with wrinkled, over-exposed skin wearing a dirty long skirt and pushing a
shopping cart full of her lifes belongings. Sometimes we may drop some coins into their
crumbling cup, or just give a smile as we pass by, and other times we choose to sit in our cars
with the window up, pretending not to see them pacing up and down the freeway off-ramp.
Regardless of our reactions, we all know that they are out there, on the streets. But, there is also
another group out there that we may not recognize. One that isnt so visible to the public eye
homeless youth. They try their best to blend in with society, not only for safety, but also looking
for acceptance, especially among their peers.
According to the National Research Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV), a homeless
youth is typically defined as unaccompanied youth ages 12 and older (up to age 17, 21, or 24)
who are without family support and who are living in shelters, on the streets, in cars or vacant
buildings, or who are coach surfing or living in other unstable circumstances. It is estimated
that there are approximately 1.5 to 2.8 million youth living on the streets in the United States.
This total has such a huge range between the figures because of the difficulty in tracking the
youth living on the streets. Due to their ages and vulnerability, these kids do their best to hide out
and blend into society, making them difficult to track. While the majority of homeless youth
reside in shelters or "sofa surf' with multiple acquaintances, a subpopulation of youth referred to
as street youth spend a significant amount of time living on the streets or in inappropriate
locations, such as abandoned buildings, cars, or under bridges. Street youth tend to have the most

OUR LIVES THROUGH

chronic experience of homelessness, and face the highest level of risk (Dept. of Health and
Human Services, n.d.).
The main reason at risk youth consistently state for their homelessness is conflict within the
family. Many have lived in abusive households, have alcohol and/or drug addicted parents, have
been kicked out due to their own drug and alcohol dependencies, or because they are part of the
LGBT community. The second leading cause of youth homelessness is a result of the high
proportion of homeless youth who have been in foster care (Dept. of Health and Human
Services, n.d). Many choose to run away, and even a greater number age out of the system at 18
years old without the resources to support themselves.
Reality for homeless youth is that 39% of the homeless population is young people under the
age of 18, 13 kids die on the street every day from abuse, disease and suicide, 46% of homeless
youth left their home because of physical abuse, 17% left because of sexual abuse, and the
average age that a teen becomes homeless is 14.7 years (Stand Up For Kids, 2014). Regardless
of the reasons that these at-risk have ended up on the streets, the fact still remains the same in
every case.these are kids, trying to manage life on their own without the emotional or financial
support of an adult role model.
Several years ago, while taking a child development class at my local community college, I
had to complete a project on a community service agency. I randomly chose the topic of
homeless youth without really any knowledge on the subject at all. Through my research, I came
to understand the very sad reality of the thousands of youth that are affected in my community
alone every year. I completed my project, and then made the decision that somehow, in some
way, I needed to do something to make a difference in the lives of these youth that are at risk on
the streets.
I found an outreach program in downtown San Diego, Stand Up For Kids, which services
homeless youth 14-21 years of age. It is through my experiences working with these youth on a

OUR LIVES THROUGH

weekly basis that I became aware of the problems and hardships that they face on a daily basis.
It is hard enough going through adolescence; try having to learn to survive on your own without
the emotional and financial support of a family. The smallest things that we take for granted are
challenges every day for the kids; such as taking a shower, getting from place to place, or simply
just charging their phone.
My most touching moment while working at Stand Up For Kids was one night when one of
the youth, a 21 year old male who attends regularly, showed up badly beaten as well as
intoxicated. Generally, anyone who enters the building must be sober, but he needed attention.
As he stumbled up to the counter to be served food, he had told me that he was beaten with a
pole that day when he mouthed off to someone. Unable to carry his own food, I set him up at a
table and go his started with his dinner. This particular male was 21 years old who had been on
the streets for the past 2 years. He had always been very respectable and thankful to the SUFK
staff during the past year that he had been attending. After his dinner and shower, he took himself
to the couch to rest until closing time. As I sat talking to him about what happened, he began to
open up to me about his alcohol abuse problems. A half hour later and it was almost closing time.
As he was standing up trying to put his boots on, it was very apparent that he was in pain
standing up. I turned around, and in a somewhat demanding voice I told him to sit down and put
your shoes on! I guess I didnt realize the stern voice I had used. For a minute I thought he was
going to get angry. To my surprise, his response was just the opposite. He thanked me for getting
on his case. He told me I was like a mother to him and he wondered if he had someone treat him
like a mother years ago, if he would ever be in this position now. He asked if he could just
call me mom. That was the last night I saw him at Stand Up For Kids.
A very important piece to helping the community understand these youth and their needs is
for the youth themselves to find their own voice and personally tell their stories. It is very easy to

OUR LIVES THROUGH

hold a fundraiser or a clothing drive in order to gain the tangible items that these youth need.
Members of the community may use this as an opportunity to clean out their closet or make a
donation for a tax write-off, but never really understand that full nature of the problems that the
homeless youth face day after day.
In order to raise awareness about the homeless youth within our community, I plan to initiate
a Photovoice project. Photovoice is a process by which people can identify, represent, and
enhance their community through a specific photographic technique (Wang, 1997). Photovoice is
a technique by which the taking of photographs or videos-usually by people who are
disadvantaged, ignored, and/or discriminated against-becomes a means of both self-expression
and personal and intellectual growth (Section 20, 2014). Disposable cameras will be issued out
to homeless youth that participate in the Stand Up For Kids outreach program on a regular basis.
With these disposable cameras, they will be able to document their day-to-day lives as they see it
for themselves. Over the course of a 4-week period, the hope is that most of the cameras will be
returned so that the photographs can be reviewed and documented by the photographers
themselves. Photovoice was based on a combination of Paulo Freires notion of critical
consciousness (a deep understanding of the way the world works and how society, politics, and
power relationships affect ones own situation); feminist theory, which emphasizes the
importance of voice; and documentary photography, which is often used to help bring about
social change (Section 20, 2014). Photovoice is a method that has been used throughout many
different countries for a variety of different topics. Photovoice is used to change peoples
opinions about themselves and their environment, when a groups situation needs to be
publicized, when a problem needs to be publicized, when change is necessary, when a
community assessment is needed or in progress, when you need to hold policy makers or others
accountable, and when you need to document a site, an event or a way of life (Section 20, 2014).

OUR LIVES THROUGH

There are three main goals of this Photovoice project. The first is to give the homeless youth
a voice through their photographs which allows them to document and reflect on both their
positive and negative experiences within the community. Also, by collaborating with each other
in the process of reviewing, sorting, and selecting the photographs to be used in their exhibit,
they are also gaining a better understanding of their own personal circumstances. Lastly, the final
goal would be for the community and the city council to gain a better understanding of the
conditions that the youth are facing so that changes can be implemented to improve services and
intervention prgrams.
In order to build community and to raise awareness, I plan to use the selected photographs,
along with their documented stories, to create an exhibit were the photographers work can be
hung and displayed for the community to view. Each photo will tell its own story, detailing the
world that the homeless youth endure. These pictures will show the harsh reality of the living
conditions, as well as the actions of the youth. Myles Horton made a statement in The Long
Haul that the teachers of poor and working people are the people themselves. Together people
share their experiences, analyze their problems and learn how to work toward basic changes in
society.
Along with this gallery of photographs, I plan to publish the photographs into a book that will
be sold online or at the gallery opening. The proceeds from the book will be donated to Stand
Up For Kids to help purchase sleeping bags and tents for the youth in need. I will utilize all
social media to spread the word about the book and gallery opening.
Whether it is from community assistance and acceptance, or through self-realization and
determination, or a combination of both, homelessness among youth is a serious problem
affecting cities all over the United States. Assisting these youth is critical and requires flexibility,
understanding and patience. My hope is that through Photovoice, I can get both the

OUR LIVES THROUGH

at-risk youth and the community to come together to work for a change that will make a
difference for everyone I our community.

References
National Research Center on Domestic Violence (2013), RUNAWAY & HOMELESS
YOUTH AND
RELATIONSHIP VIOLENCE TOOLKIT.
http://www.nrcdv.org/rhydvtoolkit/each-field/homeless-youth/define.html
About Stand Up For Kids. (2014). http://www.standupforkids.org/about/default.aspx
Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.) Promising Strategies to End Youth
Homelessness.
https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/fysb/youth_homelessness.pdf
Wang, C. (1997). Photovoice: Concept, Methodology, and Use for Participatory
Needs Assessment.
http://heb.sagepub.com/content/24/3/369.short?rss=1&ssource=mfc
Section 20. Implementing Photovoice in your Community. (2014)
http://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/assessment/assessing-community-needs-andresources/photovoice/main
Horton, M., & Kohl, J. (1990). The Long Haul: An Autobiography. New York:
Doubleday.

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