AECF - Atlanta Civic Site Strategic Articulation Map

FOCUS AREA THREE: Connecting Youth to Safe Spaces The final focus area of this initiative is connecting youth to space spaces where they feel a sense of belonging and positive value. Racial residential segregation paired with societal divestment and heightened criminalization sustains a pattern where young people come of age without spaces that they can rely on for meaningful, protective, and forgiving interactions. All too often, the lack of safe spaces and support systems can be seen in young people facing unstable housing situations. Young adults aged 18–24 are the largest-growing segment of the homeless population. Moreover, those involved with the child welfare and justice systems, as well as young parents, experience higher risk of housing instability and homelessness. In order to address this problem, we must deliberately focus on the unique housing and community stability needs of young people. To promote long-term housing and community stability, policies must remove discriminatory barriers to employment, housing, education, and voting for those of diverse race and class backgrounds. Above all, housing must be made far more accessible and livable – laying the foundation for a safe and stable neighborhood ecosystem. In particular, existing barriers to housing and community stability are strengthened by a racialized criminal justice system that harms youth directly and precludes their future involvement in society. Tainted with criminal records at a young age, youth who have experienced the justice system face a future of recidivism rather than meaningful reintegration. Currently, far too many young people are excluded from critical employment opportunities, housing, and other essential supports that keep them connected and help divert them away from (re)-entering the justice system. There is an urgent need to push forward policies that seal and expunge criminal records in certain cases. Housing laws must be reformed so that a record doesn’t disqualify someone from housing. Further, educational institutions must enable youth to access post-secondary education and credentials, despite criminal records, to promote a path for restorative justice. Policies must bolster youth’s potential to rejoin society and thrive as engaged members, especially after experiences with the justice system. Nurturing young people with safe spaces where they are valued and belong, especially as they face a daunting developmental stage, will ensure that they flourish as young adults who can go on to sustain happier and healthier communities.

[1] https://equitablegrowth.org/the-distribution-of-wealth-in-the-united-states-and-implications-for-a-net-worth-tax/ [2] https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2020/01/09/trends-in-income-and-wealth-inequality/ [3] Smith, Kirsten P., and Nicholas A. Christakis. 2008. “Social Networks and Health.” Annual Review of Sociology 34(1):405–29.

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