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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (April 20, 2001)
\ Another threat for street kids is prostitution. Duke estimates about 2,000 street youth use The risks from this activity include violence, the services of the Homeless Youth Continuum, diseases and even death. which is composed of New Avenues for Youth, Many kids engage in survival sex to get Janus Youth Services, Salvation Army’s Green food, drugs, clothing or a place to stay. Favor house and Outside In. The staff from all four has found that more boys than girls engage in work closely together. prostitution. Homeless youth first arrive at the Street kids talk about being bothered by Greenhouse. There they are referred authority figures because of who they are. The to case managers such as Favor at police, Chantel says, are especially problematic. Outside In. “The first thing for a kid on the “1 got ID’d three times in a row last night,” she complains. street is to get to a shelter,” she says. She and Stephanie say the police follow and “It’s a big step forward to come search them often. “It seems they are trying to inside with showers, food.” get us out of downtown,” Chantel says. Greenhouse is a drop-in center for Portland has a homeless youth. It offers number of serv What is unique about this city ™eals’ a I,nedl(;al ^lin!c’. ices designed to . I • r showers, laundry facilities, take the edge off is the existence of emergency crisis counseling and a being homeless drop-in services for homeless £)ace to fest and ^ ia,ize and to help kids L t L • • L I f During the days and get off the streets. yOUth. Th'lS is the result of evenings, homeless kids straggle What is unique visionaries in the early 1980s ^ needs. d Chantel, Brandy and their about this city is the existence of Stephanie rely on Green who started many o f the emergency drop- house for their programs still in effect today. basic needs as in services for homeless youth. well as emo This is the result of visionaries in the early 1980s tional support from who started many of the programs still in effect staff. “I know 1 would today. n’t be alive if it wasn’t “In many other cities, we see programs tar for the Greenhouse geting at-risk youth, minority youth, youth in staff helping me through some stuff,” gangs, those in the juvenile justice system, but not homeless youth,” Duke explains. “They Chantel says. aren’t targeted because they are invisible; they Continued on don’t look homeless.” In such cities, homeless youth won’t go to Page 28 places with adult services, Duke adds. “So, they are only seen by police or the emergency room.” Chantel says, “It’s easy living on the streets because of the availability of resources.” These programs include youth shelters and services located in and near downtown Portland. They offer counseling, housing, job placement services, health clinics and places to sleep and socialize. ■ W ÜMP :
