StandUp For Kids -

Stats

There are an estimated 28,625 homeless youth living in the Orange County area and an estimated 2,500 youth in the Orange County foster care system. Of the foster care kids, approximately 300 will age out of the foster care system program per year when they turn eighteen, and 25-50% of those kids will then become homeless. Translation: there are roughly 150 additional children on the cusp of homelessness in Orange County alone.*

Statistics show that either the vast majority of these youth have been ejected from their homes or left with their parents' or guardians' full knowledge, and most are running from horrifying situations that most of us cannot even begin to comprehend. Once on the streets, they are consistently exposed to the harshest scenarios imaginable: prostitution, theft, physical violence, drug abuse, incarceration, depression, exposure to the elements, hunger and widespread disease are daily realities for these kids. Unfortunately, for them this represents their best, or only, option.

We at StandUp For Kids find these realities unacceptable and unnecessary. The Orange County program of StandUp For Kids is committed to advocating for, and helping in any way possible, these disenfranchised youth. We do this by heading to the streets each week to locate these kids and offer our services to them without condition or judgment.

*Statistics compiled from the 2010 Orange County Board of Education Homeless Liaisons Report.