In honor of National Runaway and Homeless Youth Prevention Month, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Fox Valley’s Home Base program will be shining a light on youth homelessness this November. This is often an unseen and unheard population in our community who needs our support.
Locally, 301 students in the Appleton Area School District were identified as homeless during the 2019-2020 academic year, according to Appleton Area School District’s Homeless Liaison.
Youth on the Move aims to bring attention to this population locally along with the 4.2 million youth that experience homelessness annually in the nation. It seeks to create community awareness for the youth in need and showcasing the ways in which the community is there to help these young people.
Follow the Footprints
Organizations throughout the Fox Valley are painting green footprints to highlight safe support places for these youth. Home Base hopes to show youth that when they walk, they are not walking alone, but alongside their community. Look for yard signs and flyers near the green footprints to learn more about this vulnerable population.
To check out our virtual activities, find a map with all the locations supporting youth in this way and to learn more about Youth on the Move please click the button below.
In addition to the green footprints scattered throughout the community, the Houdini Plaza fountain and Jones Park in downtown Appleton are lighting up in green. This is the color symbolizing youth homelessness, for the month of November. They hope this will spark more support and conversation for this unseen population during National Runaway and Homeless Youth Prevention Month.
Youth on the Move is a collaboration with the Trout Museum of Art, the City of Appleton, Appleton Public Library, and the Appleton Police Department. Other supporting organizations include: Diverse & Resilient, Fika Tea Bar, Harbor House, Salvation Army, Sexual Assault Crisis Center, and Starbucks (on College Ave.)
What is Home Base?
Home Base (formerly Runaway & Homeless Youth Services) provides a variety of supportive services and community connections to youth and families that have experienced or are experiencing challenges relating to running away and/or housing insecurities as well as community outreach and prevention education.
If you’d like to learn more or are interested in supporting Home Base and homeless youth in the Fox Valley please click here to email Summer Schwartz.
