COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Local help agencies say thousands of young people are homeless in central Ohio. But there's a new effort to bring these young people out of the shadows.
The staff at Kaleidoscope Youth Center spent Friday preparing for a holiday celebration.
But here, the gifts are essentials.
"We talked to the young people, what do you need? What do you want? We talked to people in our housing programs, and our community delivered," said Executive Director Erin Upchurch. "They sent...we've got gloves, hats, clothing, warm coats, toiletries, and tonight is the night where our young people get to come here and get those items."
Kaleidoscope serves LGBTQ youth as young as 12 years old. Some have a home and come here for a sense of community.
Others aren't so lucky.
"We have those who maybe can stay in their homes and they're tolerated, but they're not affirmed, so they're not safe emotionally from a social perspective," said Upchurch. "And then we've got some young people who are just not able to stay in their homes anymore because they are not accepted or affirmed, their families have kicked them out."
She says it's far worse than many realize.
"Over 7000 youth are either literally homeless, or at risk for homelessness. Here in Columbus and Franklin County. And those are just the ones who are able to be identified or counted."
Many go unseen, which is the reason for a new effort called "Cbus See Us"
"It's about raising awareness of how bad and how acute this issue is," said Upchurch. "The goal from my perspective is to let people know what's going on. And we need to do something. To me, it's like the 'Bat Call' or the alarm. We need to, as a community, wrap around our young people and make sure they have a safe place to stay."
Young people like Waverly Evans."I was homeless since the age of 17, going on 18. I would sleep in the basement of Mickey D's. I would eat whatever I could find."
"It's tough in a lot of ways," said Upchurch. "One is just that sense of not belonging, not having love. People talk about home for the holidays. It's not always the physical home. It's also the heart home."
At Kaleidoscope, Waverly found shelter, and so much more.
"Hope," she said. "I found hope."
It's a need that knows no season.
"We're here all year, and so are our kids."
- More information on Cbus See Us: cbusseeus.org/
- Kaleidoscope's "Wish List" of holiday and winter needs for the young people they serve: kycohio.org/wishlist.html