Building Bridges Case Statement
The Need
- The number of unaccompanied homeless youth is steadily increasing each year in Moore Public Schools.
- Unaccompanied youth are students not residing with a parent or court-appointed legal guardian.
- There are no shelters in Moore for students experiencing homelessness.
- Moore does not have a public transportation system.
- Students experiencing homelessness are 87% more likely to drop out of school than their stably housed peers.
Opportunity
Together, Moore Public Schools, Moore Public Schools Foundation, and Bridges Inc. will help students with food, clothing, medical needs, and above all else – stable housing. Students will also receive counseling in life skills while having advocates help them to graduate. Together we will empower high school students in family crisis to pursue education without obstacles by removing barriers to their education.
When completed, this community will provide housing for up to twenty unaccompanied youth in the Moore Public School system.
The Case for Bridges Moore
- In the 2021 – 2022 school year, there were 34 identified unaccompanied youth in Moore Public Schools. This is an increase of 325% from the previous school year.
- 75% of homeless youth have dropped out, or will drop out.
- 5,000 unaccompanied youth die each year as a result of assault, illness, or suicide.
- 80% of homeless youth use drugs or alcohol as means to self-medicate to deal with traumatic experiences they face.
- As more efforts are placed on identification, and more resources are available, we expect for these numbers to continue to grow exponentially.
- We must take action now and find these students a safe place to sleep at night and give them hope for their future.
A product of:
1670 Stubbeman Ave,
Norman, OK 73069
bridgesnorman.org
PO Box 6100
Moore, Oklahoma 73153
mooreschoolsfoundation.org