Mannequins around valley raise awareness about teen homelessness

Homeless teens often remain faceless and nameless to the people who pass them by, but the everyday challenges he or she faces is something Sparrow’s Nest of Northwest Montana is drawing attention to in the third annual “Somebodies” campaign.

Beginning April 3 mannequins dressed in jeans, hooded sweatshirts and tennis shoes will be set up around the valley to represent unaccompanied homeless youth. The mannequins will have cardboard signs with written phrases that portray everyday realities of homelessness, such as “I have no place to sleep” or “I have no place to live.”

The campaign aims to increase the community’s awareness about teens facing homelessness. Next to each mannequin will be a sign educating the public on the issue.

Homelessness is defined as lacking a fixed, regular or adequate night-time residence, according to the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. Youth in this situation may find themselves “couch surfing” between friends’ or relatives’ homes, living in a park or abandoned building and possibly sleeping in a vehicle.

Circumstances leading to homelessness among youth stem from family problems, economic problems or residential instability according to the National Coalition for the Homeless.

Youth facing homelessness on their own often become “invisible” to the community because they might not want to draw attention to their situation out of fear or shame, “but they are there,” said Sparrow’s Nest of Northwest Montana Chairwoman Marcia Bumke.

Homeless youth that are unaccompanied — without parents or guardians — face daily obstacles in finding money for basic necessities, of which their age can be a barrier.

This vulnerable group may be exploited or victimized and may suffer from mental and health issues as a result of living off the streets unprotected, according to Youth.gov.

Businesses, schools, churches or organizations may host a “Somebody” mannequin for a suggested $500 donation. Sparrow’s Nest of Northwest Montana will deliver the “Somebody” April 3 and pick them up April 10. Proceeds will benefit Sparrow’s Nest of Northwest Montana

“We’re hoping to get between 75 and 100,” Bumke said.

Sparrow’s Nest of Northwest Montana began with a group of concerned Flathead High School parents who saw few options for homeless teens to seek shelter and turned into a grassroots countywide effort to establish a safe place for homeless, unaccompanied teens.

In the 2013-14 school year, an estimated 268 to 347 students attending schools in the Flathead Valley were identified as homeless according to the state Office of Public Instruction. Roughly 116 of those students were enrolled in ninth through 12th grade — a target group Sparrow’s Nest hopes to reach.

In March 2016, Sparrow’s Nest officially opened its first home for unaccompanied, homeless youth in Whitefish while continuing efforts to open a home in Kalispell.

The nonprofit has received the green light from the city and proper permits and will move forward with renovations on the Kalispell home in the coming months.

For more information, or to donate call 406-309-5196, email admin@sparrowsnestnwmt.org, or visit sparrowsnestnwmt.org.

Hilary Matheson is a reporter for The Daily Inter Lake. She may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.