An estimated 4.2 million people ages 13-25 (or a staggering 1 in 30 youth ages 13-17) endure some form of homelessness every year in the United States, according to the National Runaway Safeline (1-800-Runaway), a top resource for the nation’s runaway, homeless and at-risk youth as well as their families.

Since 2002, November has been recognized as National Runaway Prevention Month. This annual campaign seeks to raise awareness for the runaway and homeless youth crisis. The theme of 2019 National Runaway Prevention Month is to “Shine a Light,” designed to draw attention to the daily issues of runaway and homeless youth, raise the profile of the resources available to youth in crisis and those experiencing homelessness, and encourage the public to support our young people and participate in National Wear Green Day on November 12, 2019.  

Since 1989, Hale Kipa Inc. and Waikiki Health have been working together to offer services to Oahu’s runaway, homeless and at-risk young people through the Youth Outreach (YO!) program in Waikiki, providing counseling and other support services. YO! is celebrating its 30^th anniversary and continues to reach hundreds of youth in Hawaii each year with vital services.  Throughout NRPM, Hale Kipa highlights these services and shines a light on many of the issues that these youth face. 

In order to help recognize NRPM’s Green Light Project, an effort to “shine green lights” across the county as symbols of support and beacons of hope, Hale Kipa has partnered with the City & County of Honolulu to light Honolulu Hale with green lights from November 8-13. The Mayor’s office will also issue a proclamation in support of NRPM at a ceremony with Hale Kipa and Waikiki Health on Thursday, November 7, 2019 at 2.pm. 

If you’d like to support NRPM by helping to “Shine a Light,” you can add a frame to your Facebook profile picture. Go to https://www.facebook.com/profilepicframes and type “National Runaway Prevention Month” into the search bar. Choose the “Shine a Light” frame for the month of November. 

We also encourage you to wear green on Wednesday, November 12^th, and share a photo with the hashtag #NRPM2019.