As previously discussed, youth homelessness in the Houston/Harris County area is a growing population with far-reaching consequences for this group. They can be identified as a cultural group as they identify with others who have shared experiences and commonalities. Some of the serious difficulties, identified in Part I, that homeless youth face are greater likelihood of becoming a street victim, higher risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease or HIV, becoming pregnant, entering the criminal justice system , not have access to medical care, treatment, employment, housing or vocational education and training. Without resilience, the bleak outlook on life has the power to destroy their self-efficacy leaving them with low self-esteem. Both tangible and intangible resources have been identified to assist young people facing homelessness. Likewise, many studies have been conducted on intervention plans and their effectiveness which show great promise. Specifically, this intervention plan will examine a strengths-based method, an outreach model, and an alternative approach to formulating an intervention method. Until recently there hasn't been much research on the plight of homelessness among young people. Therefore, much of the work done in this area has been done through trial and error in an attempt to assess which intervention methods young people are receptive to and find effective. In terms of restoring effectiveness and stimulating self-esteem and self-image, strengths-based methods offer much promise. A strengths-based intervention method involves enabling young people to focus on their strengths and talents, thus gaining better autonomy and self-efficacy. Manon Krabbenborg, Sandra N Boersma and Judith Wolf (2013), s...... middle of paper ......l Health Services” (Ferguson, 2007, p. 106). While the ultimate goal of the alternative approach to social development should offer a better quality of life through economic development, this approach also aims to prevent homeless youth from disengaging from their services out of boredom. The social development approach also works best when incorporated with traditional methods of case management, counseling, motivational intervention, and cognitive intervention, to name a few. References Ferguson, K. M. (2007). Implementation of a social enterprise intervention with homeless youth living on the streets in Los Angeles. Social Work, 52(2), 103-112Krabbenborg, M.M., Boersma, S.N., & Wolf, J.M. (2013). A strengths-based approach for homeless youth: Houvast's effectiveness and fidelity. BMC Public Health, 13(1), 1-10. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-13-359