The number of homeless youth in America is on the rise. Contrary to what most people think, these kids don’t want to be where they are today. The kids who live on the streets, more often than not, do not get a fair shake in life. They are at risk of being victims of gang violence, drug abuse, human trafficking, and other horrific ordeals that young people should never go through. There are many reasons why kids live on the streets. It could be because of poverty or abandonment, or because they’re trying to escape from abusive homes. Whatever their reasons are, they all need help.

StandUp for Kids is a non-profit organization founded and run by volunteers all over the United States. The movement began in 1990 when a group of volunteers from San Diego, California began reaching out to homeless and at-risk youth. The organization grew over the years and today, StandUp for Kids has reached 18 states and counting, and has established over 35 outreach programs in those states. The main goal of StandUp for Kids is to provide young people aged 13-25 with life skills that would help them get out of the life they’re currently living. They provide services like anger management sessions, tutoring for GED, financial management seminars, behavior management classes, feeding services, identification services, and many more.

StandUp for Kids also seeks to reduce the number of homeless and at-risk youth by reaching out to kids in schools in order to educate them on the risks of running away from home.  After a presentation made by the volunteers, each child is given a Don’t Run Away card with contact numbers kids can call if they or someone they know wants to escape an abusive home life or run away from home for one reason or another.