Street is Not Home | empowerment

The Street Is Not a Place to Live program was realized after several visits and interactions with street children and running of the camps which target both children from disadvantaged backgrounds and those who call streets their home. It is estimated that over 300,000 children currently live on the streets in urban regions, and about 60,000 of those children live on the streets of Nairobi. Many are youths and grownups, who are not part of these statistics and have no roof over their heads.

CELTRA works directly and also networks with people who are currently experiencing or who have experienced street life (homelessness), activists and advocates, community-based and faith-based service providers, and others who are committed to preventing and ending (street life) homelessness while ensuring the immediate needs of those experiencing street life are met and their rights protected.

CELTRA is committed to creating systems that are necessary in preventing any emerging cases and ending street life. Our programs are centered on public education, policy advocacy, and grassroots organizing as we focus on the issues of housing, economics, education health care, and civil rights.

Family challenges

Disorderly family conditions are the main reason that children and young people leave home. Many of these homeless children and youth leave home after years of physical and sexual abuse, and troubled relationships, or some are sent out by their impoverished parents to work or beg. Others have lost their families through illness, and some have simply been neglected because they have become too much of a burden to their relatives.

Economic challenges

Most of the children and youth may end up living on the streets when their families suffer financial crises resulting from a lack of affordable housing, lack of employment opportunities, and lack of basic needs like food, medication, and education. Sometimes children and youths may become (street family) homeless while still with their families, and in the end, they may be separated from their families by the shelter, well-wishers, or child welfare policies.

We visualize a country where everyone has a secure, reasonable, affordable, and accessible home.