TRAFFIC

Idaho Youth Ranch shelter houses teens

The Idaho Youth Ranch facility in West Boise helps youngsters facing homelessness and abuse.

BY KATY MOELLER - kmoeller@idahostatesman.com

Copyright: © 2009 Idaho Statesman

Published: 11/18/09

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Contact the teen shelter

Hays Shelter Home is at 7221 Poplar Street, near Cole and Fairview streets in Boise.

The 24-hour help line is: 322-2308, or outside the Treasure Valley, toll-free, 1-877-805-2308.

E-mail the shelter: helpline@youthranch.org.

Tucked into a neighborhood between apartment complexes and a retirement community, the beige building with a green roof isn't something you'd notice if you weren't looking for it.

There aren't any big signs outside the Hays Shelter Home, the only emergency shelter for unaccompanied youth in crisis in Southwest Idaho. An Idaho Youth Ranch facility, the 12-bed shelter is staffed around the clock by 14 full-time employees, including licensed clinical social workers.

It's a resource that's underused - there are often beds available - in part because the children it serves have complex and varied issues. Due to abuse, neglect, unstable home environments or other problems, some are homeless by choice.

"Homeless youth are hard to reach. Some of the kids don't want to be found," Hays Shelter Home director Steve Fields said. "We depend on everyone in the community to be watching out and helping."

"We need all the help we can get," Fields said.

Each year, the shelter serves 140 to 180 kids, who range in age from 9 to 17.

About 74 percent of the children the shelter served this past fiscal year reported suffering sexual, physical or emotional abuse.

The kids arrive in many ways. Some just show up, others call the hotline, and police or child protective services drop many off. They spend up to three weeks at the shelter.

"We triage them, starting with clothing and food," Fields said. "We assess what their other needs are."

The goal is to reunite kids with parents or other relatives who can provide a safe, supportive living environment. When that's not possible, staff members call on state resources, including foster care.

The shelter's 24-hour help line number is 322-2308, or outside the Treasure Valley, toll-free, 1-877-805-2308. E-mail the shelter at helpline@youthranch.org..

Katy Moeller: 377-6413

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