Lessons learned from the USA

Although the USA has more resources and economic power than any Latin American country and has a consolidated “welfare state”, there are many homeless children. Censuses estimate that there are 50,000 living in the streets in New York and that other cities suffer the same problem. In the renowned Santa Fe, New Mexico, a city with 70,000 people, the street children program helped more than one thousand youth in 2001.

In general, American street children are older, i.e., they are youths and have more schooling and access to good social services, when they know how to get them.

1. Having “professional” social services is not enough. In spite of a budget which Latin American NGOs would consider shameful, well trained staff, numerous social work colleges and programs “for street children”, results in USA are not usually successful.
   
   Why?… The problem is that this exacting “professionalism” reinforces the illusion of being an expert. And when an educator or social worker falls for the fallacy of thinking that only he has the solution, without being humble enough to learn from children, he will probably be rejected by them. Children understand well how the power-knowledge of a social worker can oppress them.
   
   
2. Poverty is not the only cause of homelessness. Many American “street children”, particularly those outside big cities, come from middle class or rich families. They are in the streets because they want to escape from adults’ abuse, are seduced by drugs, have an immense desire of recognition , or are simply “bored” with their American way of life. In order to put an end to street life, programs must take this into account.