Placing hygiene kits at the base of tents at a homeless camp for teens, Rick Westbrook, executive director of Lost-n-Found Youth, attempts to show the seriousness of the plight of homeless youth, specifically LGBT youth.

The short video shot by Lost-n-Found Youth takes viewers on a short tour through a campsite where Westbrook says LGBT youth are living. And with cold weather on its way, he asks the community for financial support to help the young people get off the streets.

Lost-n-Found was founded a year ago by the Atlanta chapter of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and is now its own 501 (c) 3. The organization has a house with six beds and also does street outreach.

Westbrook recently camped out on a UHaul truck for 48 hours to bring awareness to LGBT homeless youth. Lost-n-Found also held a town hall meeting in November to update the community on its accomplishments and what it wishes to accomplish.

Statistics in a homeless report released in July by the Williams Institute show that about 40 percent of homeless youth are LGBT. Sixty eight percent of respondents participating in the survey said family rejection contributed to their homelessness.  Also participating in the study was the True Colors Fund, founded by Cyndi Lauper.

The video:

Recently, Lost-n-Found Youth videotaped a Midtown "squat" where homeless people and youth lived.

Photo: Rick Westbrook, executive director of Lost-n-Found Youth, climbs atop a UHaul truck on Nov. 6 where he stayed for 48 hours to bring awareness to LGBT homeless youth. With him is Art Davenport, outreach coordinator for the organization. (file)