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Teen shelter gets another chance at a home By Myles Murphy If persistence was all it took, there would likely be a teen shelter in Ashland already. For the second time in three months, Ashland-based nonprofit group Youthfocus has been given an opportunity to have a free house or two, but only if a place can be found to put them. "The university has three houses it needs to relocate," Youthfocus Project Coordinator Laura Blackfeather said. "We would like to have them donate at least two of the houses to us, and we're asking the community for a plot of land or a lease for land to put them." If the plan comes together, Youthfocus would work with the Rogue Valley Community Development Corporation to refit the homes, possibly joining two houses to build one youth shelter. RVCDC has experience in the area, having worked in Medford on a similar venture which turned out well, according to RVCDC Director Ron Demele. "We're hoping maybe a private individual will see this as a benefit for the community," Demele said. "We just need somebody who will talk to us about it so we can start working something out." "It's a very short time line, and that's the biggest thing working against us," Demele added. Southern Oregon University must either demolish or move three houses on Webster Street to make space for a new building which will house the Rogue Valley Community Television studio, according to SOU Physical Plant Director Bruce Moats. "We honestly have not worked out the details, but giving the buildings to a non-profit group like Youthfocus would certainly be a better alternative to demolishing them," Moats said. But with construction starting soon on the new RVTV building, the homes must be gone by May 1, giving little time to work out details such as city approvals for relocation and the particulars of moving the homes - let alone the acquisition of property. "We need to resolve this hopefully this week if we're going to work out an arrangement with RVCDC," Moats said. So Blackfeather is scrambling to find a new location. "It's sort of the same situation we were in in December," Blackfeather said. In December 2002 Youthfocus had a promise of a donated house to use for a shelter, but only if land was found to move it. That deal fell through when no property was found before the anonymous donor's January 31 deadline passed. Youthfocus was founded by community members and Ashland High School students in 1997, and members have been working toward the creation of a youth shelter since then. Early plans had called for the creation of a 20-bed shelter for displaced teens in the Ashland area, and the group has been drumming up support for the project throughout the community for such a project. Ashland has no shelter for teens, leaving many dislocated kids with nowhere to go to come in out of the cold. Once established, the home would provide up to 10 beds for teens in need, allowing them to stay for a few days or a week. "There are youth out there who don't have a place to sleep at night and it's scary," Blackfeather said. "We don't want them to give up on themselves, so we will offer shelter, food, a warm bed and guidance." While there, kids would get help from Youthfocus staff to connect with services such as those offered by social services group Community Works. For information on Youthfocus and its need for property - or to make a donation - call Blackfeather at 601-6036. |