NOVEMBER IS NATIONAL HOMELESS YOUTH AWARENESS MONTH

RICHMOND, TX. (November 1, 2021) – 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. What does that look like in Fort Bend County?  Approximately 2% of all students in Fort Bend County are experiencing some form of homelessness.  Potentially, over 7,000 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, posttraumatic stress disorder, and a vulnerability to being trafficked.

Parks Youth Ranch (PYR) provides emergency shelter, counseling and life changing services to at-risk of or homeless youth. The majority of the residents at the Ranch are teens who have been victims of emotional and physical trauma. Our shelter provides a temporary home for up to 28 boys and girls. While they live at our facility, we provide them with all their basic needs: their own bed, age appropriate and properly fitting clothing, food, personal care products, educational support and counseling. PYR provides these youth a Home for Today, Hope for Tomorrow and is the only non-profit, emergency shelter in Fort Bend County. 

You can learn more about Parks Youth Ranch and support our mission by joining us for lunch or dinner at Fish City Grill – Sugar Land on Tuesday, November 2nd. For more information on how you can get involved, visit www.parksyouthranch.org.

CONTACT: Shannan Stavinoha, Executive Director

sstavinoha@parksyouthranch.org or 281-392-5794