Today, in communities across the country, young people are living on the streets after running from or being asked to leave homes characterized by abuse, neglect, family conflict, or parental drug and alcohol abuse.
Once on the streets, such youth are at risk of being sexually exploited or abused
for pleasure or profit.
In addition, youth may engage or forced to participate in shoplifting, survival sex, or drug dealing in order to provide for their basic needs.
Since 1996, the Family and Youth Services Bureau's (FYSB) SOP has been aiding young people living on the streets or other unsafe living conditions by funding grantees to provide street-based services to runaway, homeless, and street youth who have been subjected to or are at risk of being subjected to sexual abuse, prostitution, sexual exploitation, and severe forms of trafficking in persons.
These services, which are provided in areas where street youth congregate, are designed to support and assist such youth in making healthy choices and providing them access to shelter and related services.