Pilot survey begins to identify homeless youth on lower eastern shore

For the first time ever, the Youth REACH Maryland Coalition has launched a survey to identify the number of homeless youth.

Shannon Frey, the program administer for the tri-county alliance for the homeless says, “They look like everyday children for the most part. You wouldn’t even know they were homeless unless they were to say something.”

The study is focusing on youth 24 an under in six regions in the state;  including the lower eastern shore. It will be done online and at places where homeless youth frequent. For example, homeless shelters or public libraries.

The survey asks why those participating are homeless and what resources they think they need to get back on their feet. Shelly Daniels is the director of the Samaritan in Pocomoke City, Md. Her shelter is one of many conducting the surveys.

Daniels says, “I think that’s where the cycle starts with violence and getting into trouble. If they’re some resources out there for them I think it could stop that cycle.”

Right now there is no federal funding for resources aimed at assisting homeless youth on the lower eastern shore.

Frey says, “The hope is that with numbers comes money.”

The last time these numbers were gathered was in a survey conducted by the local school boards in 2013.  There were more than 1200 homeless youth in Wicomico County, 158 in Somerset and 89 in Worcester.

Daniels says, “A lot of times these kids are under stress because they have no where to go. They have nothing.”

This is why officials say the survey is so important.

Frey continues, “So that they can be linked to services, so that they can get the help that they need, somewhere safe.”

The survey can be found on the lower eastern shore at HALO Ministries, Wicomico Partnership for Families & Children, Diakonia Shelter, Samaritan Shelter, and Catholic Charities- Seaton Center.

To access the survey online, click here.