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According to a series of articles found in the
Des Moines Register, about six of 10 homeless people in Iowa
are 21 or younger, believed to be the highest homeless youth
population of any state.
National homeless surveys suggest that over
the next three months, one-third of these kids will spend
time in a hospital or emergency room, almost half will attempt
suicide, and 37% will be
physically assaulted. Young people in Iowa find ways to survive,
turn to sex for comfort or for a place to stay, or both. Rape,
co-dependency, sex for food, all are part of survival. The
homeless youths rate of HIV infection runs two to 10 times
higher than that of other youths.
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This article
from the Des Moines Register also said that 48% of Des Moines’
homeless youths said they had attempted suicide. Nearly 80%
of those youths had tried multiple times.
This series of articles, written by Bill
Reiter, were published the week of July 14, 2003. and are
available on DesMoinesRegister.com;
for additional information, contact the Youth Emergency Services
in Des Moines, or the Omaha area Youth Emergency Services
at 345-5187.
This series of articles profiles four young people and their
struggle to survive.
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