Hearts With A Mission To Help Homeless Youth

By Kevin Lamson

There are over 1,000 youth in Jackson County who are considered homeless. The law defines homeless youth as minors who lack adequate, fixed nighttime residence. Included are those living in public places, vehicles, campgrounds, motels, shelters, and multiple-family dwellings or a friend’s residence. Those who move three or more times in a year are also considered homeless under the law. However, due to the strict enforcement of curfew and loitering ordinances in Jackson County, homeless youth are rarely visible.

Hearts With A Mission wants to provide a better future for youth who are currently homeless, or are facing the prospect of homelessness. It is our vision to create a temporary emergency shelter where youth can receive services, which will lend them support and teach them the skills they need to make positive changes in their lives. We believe the youth of today are our future of tomorrow. Helping youth succeed helps to make our community a better place to live for all of us.

Hearts With A Mission’s primary intent is to build a youth shelter and operate in the community of Medford Oregon. It will become one part of a continuum of support services already in existence for youth. The struggle to end homelessness and alleviate its consequences takes many forms including efforts to insure adequate shelter for youth. It is our goal to reflect the heart of God through compassion and help for youth in our community.

Hearts With A Mission is a faith-based organization, which was formed in March of 2007. to provide an opportunity for the entire faith community to do Mission work in the community for youth.

Our present activities are located in Medford Oregon. Currently in Jackson County there are no shelters for youth that are not in a service oriented program. Most homeless youth are not eligible for foster home placement, and cannot stay at other local emergency shelters with or without a legal guardian. Many of these youth do not link with services and agencies that can help. Others are a crime away from getting help. Some lose hope and turn to drugs and alcohol or end up in a life on the streets.

Our Goals and expectations for this shelter:

· To fill a gap in local support services for safe temporary shelter housing of homeless youth ages 10 to 17.

· Assist youth to articulate a positive vision of their futures and identify the steps necessary to reach their goals.

· Encouraging youth to re-establish family ties or in cases when that is not appropriate, support youth in accessing other appropriate housing.

· Provide homeless youth with immediate crisis stabilization.

· Provide immediate assistance to troubled, victimized, runaway and homeless youth by offering temporary emergency shelter, crisis intervention, mentoring, and family reconciliation through a faith-based approach.

· Our faith-based approach is to love God and to love others through the example of our life.

· Create a support system that will advocate for the access of appropriate community support services. To aid in mental and physical health, education, and personal well being for youth in need.

· A stable environment for families to resolve conflict and find unity.

· Provide continuing support for youth through follow-up care, which may include peer support groups, mentoring, facilitation of treatment for drug and alcohol addictions, and family mediation services.

· Staffed 24/ 7 with a 24 hour help line.

· Licensed by the State of Oregon as a resident care facility.

· 14 bed resident care facility for male and female as allowed by zoning laws.

· Video cameras for security and safety of shelter employee’s and occupants.

· Central triage system put in place to obtain paperwork as required by the State of Oregon.

· Adhere to Fair Housing Laws for non-profit and shelter providers.

· Drug testing for employees and shelter occupants.

· Parental contact within 72 hrs if applicable.

· Length of stay will vary with focus on re-establishing with family as soon as possible.

· Youth must be enrolled in school.

· Shelter will be drug and alcohol free.

· Youth will be part of a family atmosphere at shelter and will be expected to contribute in chores.

· Youth must be employed if able during summer months.

· Shelter manager will live on premises.

· Meals will be provided.

· Transportation assistance for school and work.

· Youth with service needs will be accepted and assisted to contact service agencies already operating in our community.

For more information on how you can help Hearts With A Mission call (541) 261-2625 or visit the website at www.heartswithamission.org Right now the biggest need is for cash donations. Anyone interested in being considered as a board member may also contact us.

Kevin Lamson writes from Medford, Oregon. klamsonsignaturegolfhole@charter.net