The Hidden Homeless: Youth on the Streets

Examining an aspect of homelessness that sometimes escapes attention, The Hidden Homeless focuses on teens who find themselves without a home after fleeing for reasons including neglect, domestic violence, substance abuse, or their parents being incarcerated. Many conventional shelters are not intended for young people, who often attempt to hide their situation from officials and peers, attending school and trying to “blend in” (the federal legislative McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act guarantees that children without permanent residences can attend school). Here, kids in Wisconsin and Michigan talk about coping strategies—often in terms of feeling safe and seeking stability—which can range from something as simple as having pet fish, to becoming “couch surfers” (i.e., finding temporary refuge with friends or relatives). School counselors and social service workers offer statistics and background information, while professionals from several related assistance programs are also interviewed, including transitional group homes, crisis shelters for youth, and Milwaukee's Street Beat, which is designed to prevent sexual abuse and provide alternatives to trading sex for food and housing. The Hidden Homeless looks at the underlying reasons for teen homelessness while also examining the psychological aspects of the problem, as viewers are taken from schools and sidewalks to an abandoned bus where one teen spent a winter. Despite the grim topic, the documentary emphasizes that children are able to surmount extremely difficult circumstances if given the chance. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (M. Puffer-Rothenberg)