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Updated: 7:55 AM Feb 9, 2012
Local High School Students Help Homeless Teens
The local homeless problem inspired some Bay High School students to form a club called Streetlights.
Posted: 5:06 PM Feb 8, 2012Reporter: Sandra Osborne Email Address: sandra.osborne@wjhg.com 840 Students In Bay County Schools are Homeless');">  |
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5 Comments 
Panama City- Bay School District officials estimate there are more than 800 students registered as homeless.
The homeless problem inspired some Bay High School students to form a club called Streetlights.
The group held a fundraiser on Wednesday, with a message.
“After bouncing around from house to house, I became homeless. I lived in a tent for six months,” said Nina, a Bay High senior.
Nina is one of 52 Bay High students with unstable homes or no homes at all.
Nina’s teacher has since taken her in, but not all homeless students have that option.
“If it wasn’t for him and his wife, I wouldn’t be here. I was going to have to drop out so I could take care of myself and get as much money as I could, just to live,” said Nina.
“It’s shocking to understand that this is a real problem and it’s not something that you just see on the street corner when someone is begging for change. They’re just trying to get through high school, like me,” said Sahara Peters, a member of Streetlights.
Organizers of the Cardboard Clips event allowed students to pay three dollars for a manicure or a haircut from the Step Ahead Cosmotology School.
Then, organizers encouraged students to experience a small part of what it’s like to be homeless.
“We wanted you to walk through and basically experience what a homeless student would need,” said organizer Nathan Beck.
Students assembled backpacks filled with hygiene items for their homeless classmates.
Wednesday’s event raised several hundred dollars that will go directly back to the 52 homeless Bay High students.
Streetlights is hoping to eventually create a scholarship fund.
Latest Comments
I am writing to confirm what the other two young ladies have written. Bo, in one way you are correct. there are not 840 homeless students; that number has actually risen to 1,015 homeless students registered in Bay County schools. This number comes directly from the Homeless Liason at the Bay county school board as of January 11, 2012. I can understand how that number would be shocking. Sad but true. I will alos confirm that the young ladies are also correct in saying that not all homeless teens live on the street. Many survive by "couch surfing" and moving around to different friends homes. The danger lies in the question, "What happens when they run out of friends?" Problems with the economy do not only affect the adults, but it also trickles down to the youth from increased stress on parents, to even whole families losing their homes. I applaud this group of students for drawing attention to an invisible population in our area and encouraging those teens that are struggling to accept help. Many students don't even realize that there are others experiencing the same struggle that they are, and many are too embarrassed to reach out. I am proud to see this group doing more than just talking about a problem, but becoming an active part of the solution for their peers.
As the co-chair of this project, I must say i find your words very hurtful. Not only are you disrespecting the mission, to help a teenage in need, but you are also discouraging the youth of the world to participate in making the world a better place. Does it really matter how many homeless teens there are? Or does it matter that we are trying to help them? The term homeless, when applied to minors is much more expansive, it includes teens sleeping on friends couches, moving around, without a permanent home. I have no doubt that there are 840 homeless teens. And your negative comment has no effect on my attempts to make a peer in need's life a better one. I am sorry if our statistics have upset you, but really, it was all worth it, because we made the difference in one persons life.
Hello Bo, I was one of the students that helped organized this event. Homelessness isn't necessary classified as living out on the streets, they might stay with a different family every week and sleep on their couch, which I'm sorry but a couch isn't a home to me and I bet it isn't to you. The entire point of this project was to raise awareness about the issue and I'm sorry that is too much "liberal nonsense" for you. We are trying to make a difference in this world. If you don't want to take part it then fine, but don't be blind to the facts.
