A Virginia Beach nonprofit’s executive director brings awareness to youth homelessness in a unique way

StandUp for Kids - Hampton Roads 

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) – StandUp for Kids is fighting an ongoing crisis – youth homelessness.

The National Conference of State Legislatures estimates 4.2 million youth and young adults experience homelessness.

The Hampton Roads chapter of StandUp for Kids is trying to break the cycle.

Executive Director Nicole Pixler is staying outside for 48 hours to raise $48,000.

“I felt like there was no better way to bring attention to this problem in our own backyard than by me staying outside myself,” Pixler said.

Forty-eight hours is the window of time Pixler said homeless youth are the most vulnerable.

“Within 48 hours, they are more likely to become addicted to drugs or lured into prostitution,” she said.

Within that narrow timeframe, that’s when StandUp for Kids tries to step up.

Read the rest of this article on the WAVY website.