“The sofa sofa” in New York City found exploitation in the report

They move via New York and other large cities such as shadows. Often at the end of the ends, they mix on the busy sidewalks of the city and may hold a few winks on the sofa of a friend or garden seat. They bear the risks to get food and money, and they incur violence, fraud and deception.

In the in force government reports, these adolescents are referred to as “unlikely unacceptable youth”, but they are colloquially known to many as “fugitives” – who left unstable, unacceptable or abusive families. In New York City, with high sky costs, they are looking for clean clothes, meals, shower and a warm bed.

What types of social services will help these people very weak in leading a safer and more productive life? Meridith Dank, a clinical associate professor at the Maroun Institute of Urban Administration, highlights this question through a recent study, “Understanding the needs of young people who put in New York City in an unstable manner,” I was partnership with sociologists from many universities.

The researchers wiped nearly 400 teenagers between December 2021 and July 2023, where they conducted the concentration group interviews with a sub -set of the sample. The vast majority of the study participants were between 18 and 21 years old, all of whom were born in the United States and grew up in New York City. They were without a stable address for a year or more.

The fugitives and displaced persons told the researchers that they need some extent to each of the types of housing in the short and long term through supportive services, cases specialists, legal assistance, advice for mental health, crisis intervention services, and- to some extent- barely-. Some said that they sometimes remained with their relatives, while others practiced “browsing the sofa”, or borrowing space on a friend of a friend all night. They encouraged the elements in all kinds of weather to avoid the mosquitoes of the city of the homeless as possible.

“Young people may participate in insecure behaviors to meet their needs, such as having sex in exchange for food and a place to stay or drug management to earn money, which makes them vulnerable to further exploitation,” the report says.

In New York and many other American cities, “the scarcity of the affordable housing and the lack of job opportunities for youth for living wages makes it especially difficult for young people to find stable and safe housing.”

DNK has conducted research in more than ten countries and has participated in a number of stakeholders’ meetings at the federal level on human trafficking. It directs the exploitation and flexibility program at the Maron Institute.

NYU News spoke to her about what the study reveals about the challenges facing unique youth in the city, and what can help them.

What are the factors that usually push the teenager to escape home?

There are several. Our study found that approximately 38 % fled due to emotional abuse at home, 29 % left because they were not in line with their parents or guardians, and 27 % of physical abuse. Twenty -five percent escaped because their parents or guardians did not accept them, and 23 % said they were expelled for this reason.

Whether they are expelled or escaped, how their horizons are lit because of their displacement?

The displacement can be severely disrupted by the chances of obtaining safe housing, living for living wages and other opportunities. They should focus on survival – where to find food, shelter and some profits. Given the challenges that fugitive and homeless youth face in accessing social services, the difficulty faced by service providers in keeping them as customers, many of them sleep without sleeping, staying with unsafe individuals, and bearing other risks.

How did you become interested in studying this group of the population?

I was always interested in problems affecting young people, as well as the elasticity of young people who faced adversity. When I was a Cuny PhD student, I was lucky enough to work in a pioneering study and documented the stories of more than 300 young men who suffered from commercial sexual exploitation in New York City. I opened my eyes to a completely new societal issue that a few people were noticing.

How comprehensive is the problem you document?

The fleeing youth and the homeless are the hidden population, so it is difficult to answer this exactly. Many cities, including New York, are conducting a number of homeless adults, families and youth. One snapshot of such homeless and weak youth in the city showed that there is a total of 5,734, between the ages of 14 and 24.

However, these are often under the border. They do not pick up the true range and the size of the homeless people and the homeless youth. In previous research here in New York City, my colleagues and I found that nearly three quarters of New York. Thus, they often have wide networks of friends and family members, and they can bounce into different homes to avoid displacement in the streets.

How did people find to participate in the study, given their unconfirmed circumstances and the increasing concerns about Covid at that time?

Many service providers and service centers actually worked with a limited capacity when we started the questionnaire-they only distributed food and hygiene groups at the door. But as soon as they reopen it completely, they allowed us to enter to sit with their customers, albeit with many health reserves. We are still able to get approximately 400 surveys and conducted eight concentration groups.

What exacerbated you more about what the study participants said?

The biggest surprise for me was that approximately half of the youth – 46 % – were revealed that they had suffered from at least one form of human trafficking, and those who suffered from trafficking, 32 % have been subjected to three or more forms.

Meanwhile, 18 % said they had traded sexual work for the necessities of staying before the age of 18. Rarely, young people reveal trafficking experiences, so there is such a high percentage of young people refer to the survey that they faced a set of exploitation, they should only make an important thing.

What also could be done to help young people who live in the sight of the horizon?

Young people who suffer from unstable housing require a set of appropriate development services to help them obtain housing and treat any barriers that may prevent them from staying in a long -term safe housing. One of the basic goals of study was learning from young people who would like to reach it and which would meet their needs.

While two -thirds of the youth said they are interested in receiving long -term support with housing and shelter needs, a higher percentage, 76 %, were interested in obtaining financial assistance; 71 %, recruitment help; And 69 %, help in practical issues in their daily lives.

In addition to the desire for economic aid, the majority – 66 % – expressed young people’s interest in educational assistance, and 68 % were interested in supporting life skills. They felt that these two services would help them prepare for life with more stability.

Do you consider any other research when it comes to young people that includes in an unstable manner?

My colleagues and I recently made a proposal to the National Science Corporation to create an application to help communicate with care providers. The application will allow service providers to send reminders about dates and events, and will allow young people to save important documents; They no longer have the papers with them everywhere, they went or followed the history of housing.

We are also looking to create a experimental program that includes fugitives, service providers and governmental owners, with the aim of building stability by providing long -term housing, supporting physical and mental health, and employment.