VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Youth Homelessness is a problem in the Resort City.
During the Virginia Beach city council meeting, Mayor Bobby Dyer issued a proclamation for National Youth Homeless Awareness Month.
Two organizations, Stand Up for Kids and Connect with a Wish , work to raise awareness for the issue in Virginia Beach.
“Stand Up for Kids Helps homeless and disconnected youth ages 12 to 24 by means of a drop-in center, pay for grades program, an emergency shelter, storage units, food and friendship,” said Nicole Pixler, Stand up for Kids executive director.
Pixler will share a speech before council following the proclamation, pushed for by City Councilmembers Robert W. “Worth” Remick and Michael Berlucchi.
“There are teens in crisis in our backyards,” Pixler said. “It’s a real problem here. It’s an uncomfortable problem. No one wants to talk about it but with uncomfortability brings change. We need change now more than ever.”
In 2007, November was declared National Homeless Youth Awareness Month.