NOVEMBER - HOMELESS YOUTH AWARENESS MONTH
RICHMOND, TX. (November 17, 2022) – November was first declared as National Homeless Youth Awareness Month in 2007. Since then, November has been a time to acknowledge those children and families experiencing homelessness. In Fort Bend County, approximately 2% of all school aged children are experiencing some form of homelessness. Potentially, over 5,000 children are in some way affected by homelessness right here in Fort Bend County.
Along with losing their home, community, friends, and routines as well as their sense of stability and safety, many homeless youth are also victims of trauma. While trying to survive on the streets, youth are exposed to countless dangers, with an increased likelihood of substance abuse, early parenthood, impulsivity, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and a vulnerability to being trafficked.
Parks Youth Ranch (PYR) highlights Homeless Youth Awareness Month each year by partnering with Fish City Grill for their First Tuesday Benefit and hosting Another Night Out (ANO). The 7th ANO was held the night of Friday, November 11 in Sugar Land. ANO is an awareness event for high school juniors and seniors to learn about the hardships and struggles of at-risk and homeless youth. Teens have an overnight opportunity to experience a small part of what some of their not-so-fortunate homeless peers must endure regularly in order to survive. This year’s event was attended by nearly 50 students and featured guest speakers from Child Advocates of Fort Bend, Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Bend ISD, United Against Human Trafficking and the University of Houston in Sugar Land.
PYR opened its doors in 2011 to provide emergency shelter, counseling and life-changing services to at-risk and homeless youth. Located just outside of Rosenberg, PYR is a 28-bed emergency shelter that provides services to abused and neglected youth ages 7 to 17. Since opening, the shelter has served over 1,650 children. PYR remains the only non-profit emergency shelter for youth in Fort Bend County. We are a Home for Today, Hope for Tomorrow for disadvantaged youth.
You can support our mission by donating to our Christmas Angel Project and shopping on Mondays at Altar’d State in Sugar Land Town Square this holiday season. Learn more about Parks Youth Ranch and how you can get involved by visiting www.parksyouthranch.org. Have a great Holiday Season.