Homeless Youth in Mtn. Home – Part 2

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     Homelessness is not just limited to big cities, but it also exists in rural communities like Mountain Home. In fact, according to statistics from the National Alliance to End Homelessness, seven percent of the homeless population in America exists in rural communities. Mountain Home Schools Superintendent Dr. Jake Long agrees with experts who say rural homeless is less visible in rural communities.


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     In a previous segment on homeless, Long and Mountain Home Police Officer Bubba Jones spoke about homelessness among students at Mountain Home High School. They say poverty isn’t the only reason a child becomes homeless, but sometimes, it is drug abuse by their parent or guardian. Jones, a resource officer at the high school for the past 20 years, cites other reasons, like a parent throwing the child out telling them to make it on their own.


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     Jones says that young woman did make it and was able to graduate, but some don’t. He says the pressures of working and going to school become too much, and they eventually will drop out of school, but he remembers another young woman who was successful.


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     Jones says most people don’t realize there are teenagers in the community trying to make it own their own.


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     Long adds there are resources available to help these homeless students and other students in need.


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     Long wants the community to be aware of this problem and to help the schools find solutions to the problem of homeless students.


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     The next segment in this series on homelessness in Mountain Home schools by KTLO, Classic Hits and The Boot will focus on The Bridges program being developed to ensure all students basic needs are being met so they can be successful in their education.




   

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