Street Level {Homeless Youth Documentary 2019}

Youth homelessness is a growing problem across the country. On any given night, there are between one and two million kids who can't stay at home because their families are violent, abusive, or simply don’t want them. Survival sex, abuse, addiction, crime, and trafficking are some of the harsh realities that young people may experience when they don’t have stable housing. There aren’t enough shelter beds for the increasing number of homeless youth to sleep in, and school takes a back seat when the focus is survival. Without intervention, many young people on the street are destined to become homeless adults: A grim statistic tells us that those who don’t find a way out by the time they are twenty four are likely to still be homeless at forty eight.
STREET LEVEL (©2019), a documentary film by Emily Goldberg and Michaal Smith, sheds light on the homeless youth crisis in the United States by focusing on the lives of several young people in one American city. From the winter landscape of Minneapolis, we hear from them about their struggles and about a glimmer of hope provided by a local bike shop that offers internships to homeless youth. Interweaving video shot by the youth themselves, the film chronicles both the hard realities these young people face and the sense of purpose and belonging they gain from working on bikes with the support of caring adults.
By engaging viewers in the plight of homeless youth in one Midwestern city and highlighting one social entrepreneur's innovative response to it, Street Level is designed to engender meaningful dialogue that inspires other communities to work toward better solutions to the endemic problem of youth homelessness.

[@GiftedUnscripted]

This is moving. I worked with youth until 2020 due to the pandemic I love every moment of it because I had a turbulent youth. I haven't been of service to youth in need for almost two years now. Watching this, I realized I have to get back into the fold, to help.

[@mlegold]

Thanks for watching, and more important, thanks for the critical work you do supporting young people in need. I admire your heartfelt dedication and I know what a big difference committed youth workers like you make. Glad you're inspired to get back into the fold!

[@forwarddrive4066]

The Plandemic didn't stop Me from checking on and passing out a few bucks to the 7 homeless I know. Last year (10/16/23) Keith passed on, the feeling I got from letting him sleep inside and take a shower was a reward in itself. I enjoyed listening to him talk about the way it was in the 60's & 70's. He loved my spaghetti dinner nights and would always wait until everyone was finished eating their plate before asking for more. The American Government are evil thieves of the taxpayers hard earned money and have failed at everything they have done.

[@lyricalleslie]

this is a good video. you should look into working at a community tv station or something.

[@mlegold]

Thanks, Leslie! I worked in public TV for many years! :) Thanks for watching.

[@herbnalis3723]

In Australia there is a term used called ' STREETY' meaning someone who lives on the streets. The person doesn't have a home to go to or can't go home. The term is different from ' bum' or ' alco' . It describes someone who doesn't have a problem, drugs, booze or other , just no housing. Young people can't get a rental or afford rent if working due to low pay youth wages.

[@mlegold]

Thanks for introducing that term, which I hadn't heard. The housing crisis is real. :(

[@naomiebriseno5646]

❤😂 now I didn’t know I was the one who they mainly used and I’m almost 32 years old and successful bitches❤❤❤❤ the only way to go is up😂 I miss all of them humans I just seen on the screen this is the first time I’ve seen this ever. It hurts its bold and a very long time ago. Much love for full cycle. They gave me that chance I needed to become clean and figure out what was worth it. ❤😂😂

[@mlegold]

Naomie!!!! So great to see your post and hear that you're doing well. Thank you for being such a central part of telling this important story. Yes, Full Cycle is amazing and so are you. :)

[@naomiebriseno5646]

❤ let me know how you can show how most of us made past 25

[@mlegold]

@@naomiebriseno5646 I have an idea. Is there a way I can contact you privately? (I'm not on Facebook.)

[@naomiebriseno5646]

And by the way fuckaz, that was made almost 4 years prior😂😂😂😂then them airing❤❤

[@delanoarts3703]

I was a street kid at one time I thought it would be impossible to ever get off the streets and stay out of jail it's been many many years since I had to deal with that life but I know better then anyone that most those kids will be dead by 30 if someone doesn't impact a street kids life they will have no real chance of a normal life out of everyone I was on the streets with are in jail with I'm the only one is still alive and lives a semi normal life all the rest mostly dead the ones still alive are ether jail are heavy drug addicts it so sad because those kids really have no chance no hope 80 percent will be dead by 30 the survivers will remain in that ugly world if only someone would impact there life well there young

[@mlegold]

Thank you for watching and sharing your experience and insight. So bleak and sad. I'm glad you made it off the streets, and maybe others reading what you wrote will be inspired to help youth currently in a similar situation. I'm curious to know what you think made the difference for you. Again, thanks for your comment.

[@delanoarts3703]

@mlegold it's a real long story of why I was different then everyone else but it has every to do with gangs jail violence drugs and fear basically I reached a point of no return I lost my mind I was living in a drug infected delusions I was scared for my life thinking I was going to be murdered everyday for about a year so I finally just hitched hiked out of that city and made a choice to do everything I could to basically survive it took a longtime for my mind to get back to normal I went to Calgary Alberta early 2000s major oil boom and anyone could get a good paying job with zero work experience so I went and got my first real job and just went from there then a whole new struggle began it truly took years to really leave the streets and jail at least 5 to 10 years seriously I struggled everyday to just stay normal and keep my mind on a normal path so I understand why so many of them fail even after getting off the streets they go back to the streets because it's all they ever known they have to mentally change to succeed you may not be on the streets but your mind is still on the streets it's really hard to leave it behind like you can take the street kid off the streets but you can't take the streets off the kid for me I finally truly left it when I had my kid but it was a major struggle you may be off the streets but your mind stays on the streets that's a huge thing after you get someone off they need a way to keep there mind off the streets as well and for me that was the hardest part but I literally had zero support I think if a program was set up to not only take them off the streets some how get there mind off it as well and some how get there mind to work as normal person and not a street kid that's probably one of the biggest challenges and probably the biggest struggle they will face if they get off after they get off the streets they need to some how leave it behind and thats hard for someone who spent years living that way I'm not sure how to get someone to think like a everyday person but if they get off the streets that needs to happen are they will just fail and go back like all my old friends did who were given a chance but they just couldn't get there mind in a normal plain if there was a program that helped people do that I'm positive you would see real success and life's being changed but ounce on the streets it's very difficult to get off are try to get someone off it's very complicated because of are own complexity mentally

[@mlegold]

@@delanoarts3703 That makes total sense. Ongoing psychological support even after a young person gets off the street sounds critical. I don't know whether that happens very often, but it should. I'm sorry for your struggles, and glad that you're doing okay now.

[@pleasedontdestroythiseither]

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