She wakes up every day in a panic, not knowing where her next meal will come from, not knowing why she got to this point. She has been sharing a small bedroom with another teenage girl in a trailer with a 52 year old man to whom she has no relation. Because she has nowhere else to go. Her mother lost custody of her when she was young. She doesn't know her father. When she was 14, she moved in with her grandparents and eventually dropped out of school as one was diagnosed and then the other with Cancer. She took care of them until they took their last breaths. A year later she found her boyfriend when he committed suicide. At 17 she has dealt with more than anyone should in 5 lifetimes. Each week she moves all of her few belongings to another home that is willing to take her. She has 20 stuffed animals that she takes with her from place to place. They bring her comfort. They are all she has from her childhood.
She deserves to wake up in the same room every morning and to go to the fridge for a glass of milk. She deserves to take a shower. She deserves to use soap and a towel. She deserves to have clean clothing and shoes that fit. She deserves to not feel unwanted, to not ask for basic needs as favors, to not sleep on couches. She deserves to not be yelled at. She deserves the life she longs for. She longs to care for herself. She has goals. She wants to graduate high school. She wants to support herself. She wants to break the cycle she knows is wrong. We have all the faith in the world in her.
There are over 30 stories like this in Jefferson City and no homeless shelter for teens. We have interviewed youth for the past three years who sleep in doorways, cars, and couches. Our mission is to reach youth in the greatest need. They are staring us in the face right now. We have started a pilot program to take in 2 girls to start who will live in apartments next to a Residential Supervisor who will serve as a house mom and support system. Our long term goal is to open a boys, girls, and parenting teen shelter where teens like this can flourish.
We are once more in great need of help from the communities we serve. If this speaks to you, please contact us at 573-418-9912. We need funding, apartment items, food, diapers, clothing, school supplies, volunteers, opportunities to speak, and more.
