Many people struggle to imagine what it would be like to lose a home, much less what it would be like to be a teenager out in the world alone.

How would you know where to seek help and who would be safe to turn to?

"Rabbit" is one of thousands of youths across Illinois who doesn’t have to imagine what homelessness is like -- he has lived it. After growing up in an abusive home, Rabbit became homeless at 17 when his mom kicked him out of the house.

While living on the street, Rabbit suffered sexual abuse and experienced a severe panic attack. Still, he succeeded in getting to school every day and graduating from Marshall High School in 2004.

Rabbit is now an active member of the HELLO Youth Group, which is staffed by our youth attorney and The Night Ministry. He has traveled several times to Springfield to tell his story to state legislators, fighting for policy changes that will help other homeless youths like him. In 2008, he joined the CCH Speakers Bureau.

Today, Rabbit is stably housed in his own apartment. He is looking forward to attending college, and hopes to major in dance or visual arts.

Across Illinois, thousands of youth share his struggles. A 2005 study conducted by the University of Illinois-Chicago found that there were 25,000 Illinois youths who experienced homelessness. Approximately one-third of youths surveyed said that family conflict was the reason they became homeless. Other common reasons included physical or sexual abuse by a parent or family member. Three in five youths said they had been the victim of violence during the past 12 months.

A 2007 CCH study showed that housing and supportive services succeeded in helping youths overcome homelessness: 87% of youths who exited homeless youth programs in fiscal year 2007 moved into safe, stable housing. But programs were forced to turn away 52% of the youths (3,088 youths in total) who sought their help, due to an insufficient number of shelter beds.

CCH began to address the needs of unaccompanied youth -- teens who were homeless and on their own -- when it organized a Youth Committee of service providers in 1983. Made up of 33 organizations in Chicago, the suburbs and several from downstate, the Youth Committee meets monthly to coordinate public policy work on homeless youth issues.