November is Homeless Youth Awareness Month
November is nationally recognized as Homeless Youth Awareness Month. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as many as 1.6 million children are presently homeless. In 2008, the National Runaway Switchboard received 2,562 calls within Missouri regarding homeless youth. Of those calls, 230 were within the (573) area code. Right here in Columbia, Rainbow House receives 10-15 calls each month from local youth who have either been abused or kicked out of the same homes that are supposed to love and nurture them.
With a strong desire to help these young people, Rainbow House opened Sol House in November 2007. Since that time, Sol House has served 32 youth with housing, counseling, mentoring, case management and life skills training.
You can help Rainbow House and support the Sol House program by participating in Homeless Youth Awareness Month. A variety of events will help build awareness of youth homelessness and support our mission to help youth develop into productive, caring and self-sufficient members of our community.
To participate in any of these events or for more information on how you or your business or organization can help build a better future for homeless teens, please contact Rachel Talbott at 573.474.6600.
Featured Events
November 2 through November 30: Visit Kaldi's Coffee, Main Squeeze, Mississippi Fish Shack or Which Which restaurants downtown to support Rainbow House. Each location will be accepting donations of $1 to help Rainbow House build a better future for homeless teens. Help these establishments build a brick wall by purchasing a section of the wall for $1. You can write your name on the wall in support of homeless youth in our community.
November 2 through November 8: Cafe Berlin will donate 10% of their sales during the first week of November to Rainbow House. Be sure to visit them at their new location at 10th Street & Park Ave November 2 - 8. Click here for a printable coupon.
Tuesday, November 3: Shakespeare's Downtown will donate 15% of the day's sales to Rainbow House. Please present a copy of this form when you pay for your dine-in, carry out or delivery order. Downtown location only. Additional forms can be found at Shakespeare's on November 3.
Friday, November 6: The Hipnecks & Cropdusters benefit concert at Mojo's.
Tickets are only $5 and Rainbow House will accept donations during the show. Visit www.mojoscolumbia.org to learn more about this benefit concert.
Monday, November 9 at 6pm: Teen Open Mic Night at Underground Cafe (formally Cherry Street Artisan) - 111 S. 9th Street. Teens are invited to this free event to share poetry, prose and music with other teens.
Tuesday, November 10 at 5:30pm: "Faces of Homeless Youth" Photography Exhibit and Kick-Off at Columbia Public Library. The community is invited to attend this awareness event to learn more about youth homelessness and the Sol House program. There will be a question/answer session and Ken Pearson, presiding Commissioner, will deliver the County proclamation recognizing November as Homeless Youth Awareness Month. The event will feature artist Hugh Merrill's photography exhibit and Rainbow House will announce the winners of their "Homeless Youth Art & Essay Contest."
Saturday, November 14 at 3:30pm: "Streetwise" documentary at Ragtag . See this powerful documentary about street kids in Seattle. The only full-length documentary to address homeless youth, "Streetwise" will be shown followed by a panel of teens and young adults who have experienced homelessness in our community. Tickets can be purchased at Ragtag - 10 Hitt Street.