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CAPTION: Youth learned about homelessness at a recent film screening of Homeless Youth: Finding Home. Photo by Duane Atter

The Camden Youth Engagement Project (CYEP), a program of the Lind Bohanon Neighborhood Association, has been focusing on promoting and producing positive youth activities in Camden for the past three years. Last month, the CYEP Crew invited youth to a screening of the Minnesota film documentary, Homeless Youth: Finding Home, at Steamworks on 44th and Penn in February. Over 50 youth, parents and adults filled Steamworks to learn more and openly dialogue about this important issue.

    Throughout the documentary, youth and adults learned some of the statistics about homeless youth in Minnesota:

• The average age a youth becomes homeless is 16.
• 54 percent of homeless youth are from greater Minnesota.
• An estimated 550-650 youth age 11 to 17 experience homelessness nightly.
• 88 percent of homeless youth are enrolled in school.
• 53 percent of homeless youth have been physically abused.

    (*Information compiled from:  Wilder Research, Overview of Youth and Young Adult Homelessness in Minnesota, Facts and Analysis Data from the 2006 Statewide study.  June 2008.)

    When asked what the youths' gut reaction was after viewing the local documentary, one said he discovered, "Homelessness is not just about not having a roof over your head, but it's about loss of family, father or a mother." Another remarked, "We have to understand the reality-if you don't first understand it, you can't change it."

    Some youth realized they had perhaps the wrong perceptions of homelessness. "Any person can be homeless and you wouldn't know." Another noted her image of "homelessness" has always been an older man in his 50s but she realized they could be the person next to you.

    Many voiced their gratitude for what they have. Duane Atter, owner of The Warren An Artists Habitat, commented, "It's through CYEP activities like these at Steamworks and at the Warren, my perception of youth has changed through stronger ties with youth. And having them hold these events is changing the community."

    Go to Camden Youth Engagement Project on Facebook to learn more about other upcoming CYEP hosted events or go to www.lindbohanon.org and click on Camden Youth.