A moving exploration of the crisis of homeless youth — told through the inspiring stories of a woman on the front lines and the kids themselves.
When Vicki Sokolik’s son brought home a classmate who was living on her own and was dropping out of school to support herself, Vicki stepped in to help — and became suddenly aware of the invisible population of homeless young people in this country. Officially designated “unaccompanied homeless youth,” these are young people who are not in the foster system, victims of intergenerational poverty, neglect, racism, domestic and sexual abuse, homophobia, and addiction. Unable to live at home, they navigate life alone, without a safety net or adult guidance, sleeping on friends’ couches, in parks, and on the street.
If You See Them wakes us up to the issue of youth homelessness in America, told through Sokolik’s own story of advocacy and the voices of the kids themselves. This story of grassroots action shows us the world-shifting power of compassion, acceptance, belonging, and self-determination, and the capacity each of us has to change our communities for the better.
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Nonfiction
If You See Them: Young, Unhoused, and Alone in America
September 1, 2023
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