Kim Sisson keeps food, hygiene supplies and clothing for homeless youth in the trunk of her car.Every year in Arizona, an effort is made to accurately record the number of homeless men and women who live here.
Kim Sisson, the Tucson outreach director for Stand Up for Kids, says those numbers are woefully inaccurate when it comes to homeless teenagers.
She believes the true number of homeless teens may be 10 times the official estimate, because often young people living on the streets avoid recognition. Most homeless shelters have a legal obligation to report them to juvenile authorities.
But Sisson has spent months building trust with the kids she seeks to help. Word of mouth is her best asset in making those connections, along with maintaining a steady and reliable presence in urban areas where homeless teens gather.
During the holidays--Stand Up for Kids' busiest season--Sisson urges any runaways, street kids, or teens in crisis to seek help from Stand Up for Kids.
The hotline number is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 520-271-5369. Kim Sisson can be reached at KimS@standupforkids.org.
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