HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-09-03 - AGENDA REPORTS - HOMELESS TEENS STATUS RPT (2)NEW BUSINESS
DATE:
SUBJECT:
DEPARTMENT:
City Manager Approv:
Item to be presented
September 3, 1996
HOMELESS TEENS STATUS REPORT
Parks, Recreation & Community Services
Adele Macpherson
In the June 3 & 5, 1996 study sessions, City Council directed staff to investigate the issue of
homeless teens in Santa Clarita.. This report is intended to update City Council on staffs
findings to date.
On June 24, 1996, staff met with two youth; one was homeless at the time, and the other had
been without a home frequently in the past. The youths took staff to a location which, for
purposes of trust and confidentiality, cannot be specified. At this location was a small "camp.."
City Council should know that entry into the camp is very difficult, requiring scaling a fence,
fording a river -wash, and hiking quite a distance up to the site.
According to those to whom staff spoke, as many as fifteen (15) youth have lived in the camp at
one time, ranging in age from 14 to 24 years -old. Generally, the youth who have lived in the
camp stay for a period of one to two weeks, though some have lived there for up to three
months. The teens report that there is another, similar camp located in the Agua Dulce area,
but that it is too far to be useful to many of the teens in need. The teens estimated that as
many as 100 youth experience homelessness at any given time throughout Santa Clarita.
On June 26, .1996, staff met with a group of approximately 10 teens who were or who had been
homeless. The teens stated that conflicts in their homes drive them into the streets, where they
usually stay for one or two weeks before returning home. But, once they have returned home,
they generally are only therefor a matter weeks before they are on the street again. Once on
the street, they alternate between living in the camp, sleeping in parks or under bridges, or
"couch surfing," meaning they sleep for a night or two on a friend's couch.
While on the streets, the youth admit that they frequently resort to panhandling or theft in
order to obtain food, clothing, cigarettes, and bus money. They side buses to the truck stops in
Castaic, where they use shower facilities.
APPROVED Agenda Item -L
The youth report that they are in need of low-income housing, transportation, and jobs.
However, they are very resistive to the suggestion of any program which will impose rules or
boundaries upon them. They consider other homeless youth to be their "brothers" and "sisters,"
and insist that they do not want to enter the social service system (foster care) because they will
be sent to homes beyond the Santa Clarita Valley, where they have friends and schooling.
At this point, school counselors have been unavailable for interview because of the Summer
vacation, but staff anticipates having an opportunity to discuss the issue with them in the Fall.
Additionally, staff has placed telephone calls to shelters in the San Fernando Valley, and is
awaiting responses from themregarding numbers of youth who migrate to Hollywood -area
shelters from the Santa Clarita Valley.
It appears to staff at this point that there may be two issues at work: that of homeless young
adults, and that of homeless children/teens. Both issues require further exploration, and input
from adults who are familiar with the situations which the youth face day-to-day. Upon
receiving more adult input, staff will be able to present to council more complete findings, and
will be able to recommend options for approaching the issues which more clearly emerge.
City Council accept report and direct staff to continue investigating the issue of homeless teens
in Santa Clarita.
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