In San Diego County, there are an estimated 1500 youth who make up our city’s unsheltered population. Nationally, the estimate is 4.2 million children in the United States who endure some form of shelter insecurity. The reasons these children are homeless or seek shelter outside their established home environment include traumatic childhood and family experiences, sexual orientation acceptance, drug and alcohol addiction, family domestic violence and conflict, economic instability due to cost of living in San Diego, and more.
Children make up 12% of the county’s unsheltered population which is higher than our homeless veteran population. A local organization who opens their doors to kids that are on the street is StandUp for Kids. StandUp for Kids is a national non-profit organization dedicated to ending the cycle of youth homelessness in our local communities. They provide care for homeless and at-risk youth by transitioning them from crisis to connection, offering them a sense of safety, hope, and belonging through housing support, mentoring, drop-in centers, and street outreach (https://www.standupforkids.org/who-we-are).
University studies suggests that touching stuffed animals/comfort objects can help to relieve fear and anxiety, while helping with increasing social connections with people during periods of stress and anxiety. The touching and holding of stuffed animals can help increase one’s sense of security when transitioning through life stages. The SDMLC gifted the organization with multiple bags of stuffed animals that will be used during crisis and communication outreach helping to provide a calming effect as well as helping to reduce anxiety in the youth. We are thankful to contribute, in this small way, to these kids and youth in need. Featured here are the staff from Stand Up for Kids, Lion Sandi, and Lion Liz. Thank you to the StandUp for Kids organization for all they do and give to our youths who are homeless.