Theories and realities often differ. Such is the case on Whidbey Island, where Island County Sheriff Mark Brown has raised concerns about mixing young teens, older teens and young adults under the same roof at Ryan’s House for Youth, the only refuge for young people without homes on the island. His concerns evidently led to the state pulling a $200,000 grant that had been earmarked for facility renovations and expansion, including a small medical clinic.
When I first became involved in homelessness, over 30 years ago, I was petrified at the potential for disaster working with homeless adults and families. My lack of experience with this population and media stories about the scary mentally ill homeless predators on the streets of urban communities disturbed me greatly.
With 15 years experience running shelters serving families and adults, including the largest homeless shelter in Illinois outside Chicago, relying on a volunteer force of untrained do-gooders from area faith communities in facilities that included a former city incinerator, I will say my fears were unfounded.
I met Lori Cavender, founder of Ryan’s House, about eight years ago. Motivated by a deep concern for the wellbeing of youth experiencing homelessness on Whidbey Island, she figured out a way to begin meeting their needs in a community with no services for this largely invisible, and certainly ignored, vulnerable population. I was impressed at her willingness to plunge into this challenge.
Since then, I’ve kept in contact with Lori and have visited Ryan’s House many times. I’ve interviewed youth who have used the variety of services offered there and heard how much it means to them to have people who care. I suspect the compassion is the most appreciated gift the staff and volunteers at Ryan’s House offer, but that doesn’t negate the vital services — shelter, food, counseling, advocacy and, as planned with the grant they applied for, a medical clinic.
I’ve heard countless horror stories about youth who have not had stable housing for myriad reasons. What makes these stories more horrible is the lack of help for them, including the most basic — a place to safely sleep at night. I’ve interviewed hundreds of adults and kids for documentaries I’ve made over the last 12 years, and these extensive anecdotal accounts point to what I think is obvious — if you’re a homeless kid, you’ll likely experience some level of trauma. The likelihood of becoming a homeless adult increases with unaddressed trauma.
In fact, half of Washington’s 39 counties have no beds for youth. That might sound mundane, but alternatives for young people with nowhere to go includes plenty of hazardous options, including human trafficking.
“Runaway and homeless youth have high rates of involvement in the juvenile justice system, are more likely to engage in substance use and delinquent behavior, be teenage parents, drop out of school, suffer from sexually transmitted diseases and meet the criteria for mental illness,” according to youth.org.
Cavender and her supporters drummed up enough resources to purchase and renovate the old Countryside Inn in April, 2016. Since then, they’ve established this cozy facility as a much-needed haven for youth without homes.
They are aware of potential hazards mixing young people with older youth. They take steps to avoid possible problems. One might figure out that youth — young and older — are in danger of plenty of possible hazards, especially if they have nowhere to go.
All of this leads me to wonder: What is the true motivation of Sheriff Brown and his friends, convincing State Rep. Norma Smith (R-Clinton) to pull Ryan’s House funding?
• Diane Nilan is the president and founder of HEAR US Inc. For more information, go to www.hearus.us
