How to help homeless autistic young adult
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Anonymous
| This isn’t in DC but I’d like to try and help someone who could use it. They are a 20 year old autistic adult male. I frequently go to a cafe to work and noticed they are often there. It’s clear they have autism and they wear headphones all the time and carry a stuffed animal. I always wondered who brought them there and thought maybe one of the cafe workers were related to him. Turns out he’s homeless and goes across the street to sleep in a closed Burger King. What would be the best way to try and help him? |
Anonymous
| Could you open your home to them? |
Anonymous
| Have you ever talked to them? Getting connected to social services can be difficult if you have a disability. One place to start would be familiarizing yourself with the process in your area and then offering to help them navigate it. |
Anonymous
| See if your area has a disability services office that can help. Look under MRDD or developmental disabilities) perhaps. |
Anonymous
| Find their family. |
Anonymous
This. A place to sleep, some nourishing food, and access to a clean bathroom and washing machine can be transformative. |
Anonymous
|
They need to be connecting to social services. If they have an autism diagnosis, it could unlock benefits for them.
Just a caution that there are conditions that can look to lay people like autism (especially low needs autism), but aren’t. A homeless teen still needs help no matter the particulars. |
Anonymous
+1 |
Anonymous
| This teen should be able to get disability benefits and group housing, but will need assistance to get through the paperwork, etc. Contact social services so they can get someone to him with the expertise he actually needs, while also finding safe and appropriate temporary housing. |
Anonymous
| As others mentioned, get social services involved. Is this an adult teen-age 18 or older? if so I might consult with adult protective services about what can be done. As a parent of a teen with autism this breaks my heart! |
Anonymous
| Democrats always vote for homeless people to get services but never want to take them in their home. They think the funds grow on trees. |
Anonymous
As opposed to Republicans who vote against services, don’t provide them aid in their home, and would prefer to just incarcerate them? |
Anonymous
| Stop the political sniping,,OP needs real answers |
Anonymous
The real answer is that the teen is refusing service otherwise they would be receiving treatment. The powers that be will not detain someone against their will. |
Anonymous
| My heart is breaking here. Parent of two ASD young adults. Where is his family? |