Call to action to the City Council and City Administration of Fayetteville, North Carolina

It is time for the City Council, City Administration, the House of Representatives and Senators of Fayetteville, North Carolina to move into action on the behalf of the homeless youth, the jobless youth and at-risk -youth of Cumberland County.

In Cumberland County there are 568 homeless youth and the number is greater of youths without jobs.

Homelessness and no jobs has a serious impact on youths who are affected and the wider society.

Youths who are homeless and jobless describe their lives as being on hold. While being homeless and jobless makes it much harder for them to achieve their goals and ensure their own well being.

Homeless youth often experience a disruption in their education and crises during their adolescent years and their circumstances.

Poor qualifications and high support needs make it difficult for homeless youth find work. Welfare benefits rules also dictates homeless youths is better off on a job than benefits.

Poverty and desperation means some homeless turns to crime, drug use and dealing, gangs and gang violence. This further decreases their chances of them find work, escaping their situation and developing into successful and productive young adults.

Homelessness among adolescents put them at risk of being victims of crime, exploitation and early death due to the street violence of gangs rivalry.

Homelessness and no jobs among our youths acts as a barrier to them in achieving other goals, such as going to College, eating healthy and living independently. The stress of homelessness and being jobless had a serious impact on adolescents mental health.

The cost of youth homelessness to the public purse is very high. This is due to a number of factors: Higher acute health care services and criminal justice system, expensive temporary accommodations, prolonged period on welfare benefits.

The New Economics Foundation indicated an annual cost to the state of 26,000 for each homeless youth.

Investing in alternative programs and entrepreneur programs for homeless and the at-risk-youth of Cumberland County will save Cumberland County a significant amount for the taxpayers by preventing some of the cost. A report by communities and local governments showed that the supporting people program which pays for range of groups, including homeless adolescents, saved a total of 3.41 billions a year, against an overall investment of 1.61 billion.