News Release from: City of Beaverton
MEDIA ALERT: CITY OF BEAVERTON AND BOYS & GIRLS AID ADDRESS HOMELESS YOUTH ISSUE
Posted: October 17th, 2012 4:16 PM
WHAT: With the help of a $493,000 Community Development Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the city has helped Boys & Girls Aid purchase and renovate a four-unit apartment building to serve homeless and at-risk youth. Currently, the Beaverton region has the largest homeless youth population in Oregon, at 1,840 youth. The program will serve Washington County youth ages 16-21 who are facing homelessness or unstable housing.
WHO: Beaverton Mayor Denny Doyle and Boys & Girls Aid Executive Director Michael Balter.
WHY: Another step in addressing the serious homeless-youth issue in Beaverton.
WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 18 at 10-10:30 a.m.
WHERE: 11855 SW 5th Street, Beaverton, OR 97005
Photo Opportunity: Mayor Doyle and Executive Director Michael Balter will smash homelessness (old cabinets) using sledge hammers.
CITY OF BEAVERTON HOSTS OPEN HOUSE FOR PROGRAM THAT WILL ASSIST HOMELESS YOUTH
Mayor Denny Doyle invites the community to attend the Boys & Girls Aid Transitional Living Program's open house in central Beaverton (11855 SW 5th Street) on Thursday, Oct. 18, from 10 a.m. to noon. The open house celebrates a new transitional housing site for homeless youth. The purchase and rehabilitation of the site was funded by a $493,000 Community Development Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
According to the Beaverton School District, the Beaverton region has the largest homeless student population in Oregon, at 1,840 students. The Transitional Living Program will serve Washington County youth ages 16-21 who are facing homelessness or unstable housing.
Through federal funding, the city helped Boys & Girls Aid purchase and renovate the four-unit apartment building that will serve as the permanent home for the Transitional Living Program. Exterior renovations have been completed and the interior improvements will begin after the open house. Boys & Girls Aid anticipates that clients will move in by January 2013.
"A safe home is central to one's well-being and the first step in getting people back on their feet," said Mayor Doyle. "We're taking a building that was neglected and giving it new life and purpose."
While living in the apartments, the youth will participate in skill building meetings to help prepare them for independent living. The participants will be required to have a job, save at least 30 percent of their income and finish their high school diploma or GED.
In addition to the funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the city secured donations from community partners, including:
* Scott and Valerie Mercer (paid for new windows)
* The Homebuilder's Foundation (will help with interior renovation of the building)
* Community Action (completed the weatherization)
* General Tree Service (removed old landscaping and designed new landscape plan)
* Catalyst Partnerships (will construct a new fence)
* Garlic Jims (provided pizza for the clients and supported fundraising efforts)
* Beaverton SEIU Local 503 OPEU (organized fundraising for soft goods)
* EcoBinary (donated computers to the kids)
"We're thankful to all the organizations and community partners that have stepped up to help these kids," said Mayor Doyle. "Now we're seeking donations to help renovate the interior so we can make this house into a home."
Those interested in donating or learning more about the project can visit www.BeavertonOregon.gov/BGA or contact Andrea Nelson, project coordinator, at 503-526-2533 or anelson@BeavertonOregon.gov.
"The community's strong support for this project is extraordinary," said Mayor Doyle. "By working together, we're making a difference that will ensure these kids have safe and stable homes. I'm very proud of our community."
ABOUT BOYS & GIRLS AID
In 1885, Portland's civic leaders founded Boys & Girls Aid to find safe homes and permanent families for children with neither. More than 125 years later, they're still making that happen. Boys & Girls Aid is dedicated to impacting the lives of children in need. To do this, they offer programs for children and youth that provide permanent homes and safe places to stay temporarily. For more information, please visit www.BoysandGirlsAid.org.
ABOUT BEAVERTON
Beaverton enjoys one of the most diverse populations among Oregon cities. Most recently, the city was awarded the 2012 Mayors' Climate Protection Award from the U.S. Conference of Mayors. It was one of just four cities of its size recently recognized as a "Smarter City" energy leader by the Natural Resources Defense Council and one of the 100 Best Places to Live in America by Money magazine. In addition, Beaverton has been named one of the safest cities in the Pacific Northwest for three consecutive years, as one of the best places to raise kids by BusinessWeek magazine, an All-America City finalist, as one of the top 25 Suburbs for Retirement by Forbes.com, one of the 100 Best Walking Cities in America by Prevention magazine, the Recycler of the Year from the Association of Oregon Recyclers, a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation, a Bronze Award Bicycle Friendly Community designation by the League of American Bicyclists and as one of the Environmental Protection Agency'
s Green Power Communities, the Beaverton Community Vision program was named Public Involvement Project of the Year--Best Planning Project by the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) Cascade Chapter. For more information, please visit www.BeavertonOregon.gov or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cityofbeaverton.
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