Recently, a group of current and formerly homeless teenagers staged a protest outside Milwaukee's city hall to draw attention to the plight of homeless teens in the city. Homelessness advocates claimed more than 400 teenagers live on the streets in Milwaukee, unable to find a place to sleep at night because only 16 beds are set aside specifically for them in area shelters.

"The issue of teen homelessness in Milwaukee is a shadow issue. It's an invisible issue," Daniel Magnusen from the Counseling Center of Milwaukee said.

Not just in Milwaukee: it's estimated that one in three homeless people in the US is aged 18 or under. Exact figures are hard to come by. Some are former foster children, others are runaways, and many are homeless along with a parent or sibling.

Because they may not be as obviously homeless as some other populations — they're generally not raving in the street, after all — it's harder to spot them. And finding a way out is tougher for teens, since they usually lack the work experience to get a job.

The Runaway and Homeless Youth Act, which provides federal funding to programs that help disconnected youth, is set to expire on September 30. Last month, the House of Representatives voted unanimously to renew it, and the Senate is expected to vote on it sometime this summer. The National Alliance to End Homelessness has recommendations on amendments to the law; take a look and contact your senator.

[image credit: WTMJ-TV]