Raising awareness of homelessness and funding to shelter homeless teenagers is the goal of the No Place To Go event in Denison. The night-long activity will be from 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 7 until 6 a.m. on Nov. 8 and be held at Forest Park.

Participants, who can include community leaders, groups and individuals, will be required to spend the night in the park with only a sleeping bag and pillow. All are asked to pledge at least $115.44 which is the cost for the North Texas Youth Connection to shelter one teenager for one night. No tents or similar coverings will be allowed. Participants will begin arriving at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 7. There will be a brief welcome and some small activities. Provided will be snacks, restroom facilities and a light breakfast on Sunday morning.

In addition to sleeping bags and pillows, participants should bring an umbrella, extra blankets, warm clothes, a rain jacket, and flashlight.

For more information on or to participate in No Place To Go, call 903-893-4717 (the North Texas Youth Connection) or visit www.ntxyouthconnection.org or www.texomahomelesscoalition.ning.com.

November is National Runaway Prevention Month, and Nov. 15-21 is National Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week. Some of the facts regarding homelessness include:

• There are more than 125,000 homeless children in Texas.
• Out of the total homeless in the United States, 34 percent are families with children, a large segment being young, single mothers and their children.
• Of the runaway and homeless youth, 46 percent have been physically abused at home.
• The average age of homeless persons in the United States is 9 years old.
• More than 5 percent of youths are reported to run away every year.
• Only approximately 21 percent of runaway youths are reported as missing.
• More than one-half of all homeless children are pre-schoolers, with nearly 90 percent of homeless children being between the ages of 1 and 14.
• It costs $115,44 to shelter one teenager for one night, $808.08 for one week, and $3,463.20 for one month.