The Need for SafeShelter

It’s a situation that is all too common. A teenager gets into a fight with his or her parents. In some cases, the fighting ends with the teenager either getting kicked out or running away. The teen then finds himself on his own. He will usually have very little money if any, and he will need somewhere to stay. He will call every friend he can to see if someone has an available couch. He doesn’t know how to take care of himself or how to fix things with his parents. There aren’t too many situations that can leave one feeling more desperate than how a teenager feels when he can’t go home.

Unfortunately, when some young people find themselves in this position, they make some very poor choices. One young man, desperate for money, decided that it would be a good idea to use a stun gun on a 73-year-old woman. After he was arrested, he had this to say:

“My mom kicked me out of the house and I needed money. I don’t know why I Tased her but I got the stun gun from my friend.”

While what he did was horrible, his actions highlight a bigger problem: where should a teen go when he finds himself on the street? How can one avoid this kind of situation?

Thankfully Youth Outreach has the answer for Yamhill County: the Safe Shelter program. This is a temporary emergency shelter program designed for teens who find themselves without a place to rest their heads. The young person will stay with a wonderful host home family and get the help he needs to get things back on the right track. We can help work out issues with family, get the teen help with food and medical issues, as well as help establish and accomplish goals for the future.

There is no reason for a young person to panic when they are unable to go home. If you or a friend need our help, you can call (503) 538-8023 during the day, or you can call our after hours helpline at 1-866-538-8023. Call us; we can help.

Over $40?!

Has someone ever owed you money and would not pay you back? It has happened to most of us. There are a few ways you can try to get your money back, but the truth is you may never see your cash again – and there isn’t much you can do about it. Most of us would chalk it up as a lesson learned; most of us would just never lend to that person again, and we would be more hesitant to lend at all. Unless you are one of three south Florida teens – who set those that owe them on fire. Even for only $40!

Yes, you read correctly. Michael Brewer was doused with rubbing alcohol and set on fire by three teens because he owed them about $40. Unbelievable. Michael has been through a tremendous rehabilitation process and, according to doctors, should recover. The three teen pyromaniacs are facing adult sentences of 30 years in prison.

What has happened to our society? Is human life worth so little these days? Teens, of course, should not all be classified as out of control pyromaniacs, but this story highlights some real problems. First, it shows the problem many teens have understanding the consequences of their actions. Secondly, it shows severe anger problems. Thirdly, and most shockingly, it shows that, at least to these teens, people are disposable. Young people need to be taught that they need to really think through what they are going to do and understand what the outcome will be. They also need to understand that no amount of money is worth a human life.