BOY NOMADS

Evening Star, Issue 21823, 12 September 1934, Page 12

BOY NOMADS

NEW YORK PROBLEM The number of-homeless boys leading nomadic lives, living in vacant lots and empty buildings wherever ayaiable is increasing in New York City,and the necessity for extensive preventive work with children and; adolescents to check this recent development in the social problem is growing constantly, it was reported recently by Stanley P. Davies, general director of the Charity Organisation Society. After asserting that his development was one which may well lead to serious growth in chronic vagrancy, Mr Davies added: “No detailed figures are available on the number of homeless boys in New York City to-day, but estimates made by the boys’ bureau indicate that tbs number is approximately double that of the samp time last year. In the Harlem section it is estimated that for every homeless boy receiving help from a social agency there are ten boys who are leading nomadic lives. “ Tli© problem of homeless children is on© that is not easily explainable, but there is t every reason to believe that it is closely allied to distressing family, situations . resulting from the prolonged depression. It is very patent that the development of children is largely conditioned by parental problems, £tnd tbe tension thnt has existed in many homes during the past four years is reflected in emotional disturbances in children which often lead them to run away., - “ Anything that will help adjust these emotional disturbances among children will aid in reducing the growing number of homeless boys_. The summer camps, which are maintained by the welfare agencies of New York, can be of great service in this preventive work. The Charity Organisation Society is this year endeavouring to centre its summer camp work upon those children whose needs are for emotional adjustment as well as physical rehabilitation. Unfortunately, a lack of funds makes it impossible for the society to send away all of the children under its care who need this work, and it is estimated that there will be 15 per cent, decrease in country vacation activity : among all agencies in New York this wear,”