Addressing the Rise in Homeless Youth

Radio Health Journal, a syndicated 30-minute radio program that appears on more than 450 radio stations nationwide, recently interview advocates about the rise in homeless youth.

Heather Bradley, The Night Ministry’s Youth Outreach Coordinator, is featured along with Daria Mueller from the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless and Maureen Blaha from the National Runaway Switchboard. Heather and three youth outreach professionals (William Kyle, Menachem Cohen and Jen Rude) provide street outreach in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood to homeless and at-risk youth. All year long, on Tuesday and Thursday nights, they conduct a youth outreach program at the corner of Halsted and Belmont. Recently the program has expanded to include youth outreach in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood one night a week and daytime program that currently hosts a Wednesday expressive arts group. Last year, our Youth Outreach team had over 15,000 contacts with 550 individual youth. In addition to thousands of referrals, the team distributed 8,885 meals and over 13,000 self-care items to youth.

You can listen to the story online at http://www.mediatracks.com/RHJ_10-08.mp3. The interview starts at 2:10 and runs for approximately 13 more minutes into radio show.