TRAVERSE CITY -- A local agency is taking homeless teens off the streets in northern Michigan and putting them on a path to independent living. Third Level Crisis Center in Traverse City is starting up its homeless teen transitional housing project.
7&4's Kate Fox has more on the project that aims to help young homeless people enter adulthood.
Growing up 22-year old Brittany Dencel never had a place to call home. Dencel says, "It was hard to find comfort and shelter that you need when you're a kid...it was just never there. It wasn't ever were staying here for an extended period of time, it was like we'll stay here for a week, we'll stay here for a few days."
Dencel says the start up of Third Level Crisis Center's new homeless teen transitional housing project will give kids an opportunity she never had.
After fund raising for a year, the organization is looking to lease the first of a series of homes in the Grand Traverse Area. The goal is to give young people ages 18- 21 a place to transition into adulthood.
Third Level Crisis Center Executive Director Ken Homa says, "They need a place where they can get a foothold, a place to start, a place to call home and start to put their lives together.”
The homeless teens will be chosen from several agencies -- like Pete's Place which is a homeless shelter in Traverse City.
Pete’s Place Manager Bree Pedersen says, "We have these kids that literally go from one week being a 17 year old who’s allowed to be in this shelter to being 18 – who’s now legally considered an adult -- but the teenage brain is still the teenage brain, it doesn't develop until there well into their mid twenties. These kids are up against a lot of obstacles."
The homes will fit a least 3 people who will be allowed to stay for 6 months. While in the home they can take advantage of several life skill services.
Homa says, "We actually will have people come in and help them learn how to balance a checkbook, write checks, pay bills on time. We'll also help them find a job, get them to start saving money to have when they move out."
The organization is looking to lease homes by the Grand Traverse Mall and downtown Traverse City for employment opportunities.
The plan is to finalize a lease on the first house by June 1st and then start fund raising for future homes.
