Youth Homeless Demonstration Takes Over Dilworth Plaza
by Cherri Gregg
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A pop up installation of life-sized human cut-outs took over Dilworth Plaza on Thursday.
The goal was to raise awareness about a growing problem among youth.
Hundreds of young people age 18 to 24 live in Philadelphia with no place to call home.
"We have a huge problem-- last year we served 512 young people, we turned away 546 more," said John Ducoff, Executive Director of Covenant House Pennsylvania.
The group organized "Cut Out," a daylong installation of more than 200 cut-outs to illustrate the large number of youth shut out of the shelter system.
"I was actually on the streets after I got kicked out from my dad's house," said 18-year-old Carson Dow.
He spent three weeks living in a park, a bed opened up at Covenant House, and now he's got a job and is headed to culinary school.
"Everybody has the right to choose another path," said Dow.
More help could be on the way. City Council appropriated an additional $700,000 for youth homeless; and will announce new initiatives next week.
