Are the homeless getting younger?

I have noticed a disturbing trend recently. The exits and entrances to the highway near my office are populated by younger people with signs saying they are homeless and in need of money for food. They look sun worn and dirty, and usually have backpacks. Are these young travelers coming to Chicago for the Lollapallooza and other music fests, are they traveling the country on some wanderlust, or are they a new breed of homeless? I started to see these kids in their 20′s back in the late winter, so I am guessing that they are not just here for the festivals. What is leading these young people to the streets? Is it drugs, lack of job opportunities, or bad situations at home? The economy is making it very difficult for those graduating high school or college to find gainful employment, which can lead to going underground to find income. Time will tell, but we need to engage these kids before they become the street people of tomorrow, or worse, don’t make that far.

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