LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - A nonprofit is opening a drop-in center in downtown Lincoln for homeless and runaway youth.
Cedars will open the Youth Opportunity Center in a former hair salon on Feb. 1, The Lincoln Journal Star (https://bit.ly/2jpJjPl ) reports.
Cedars Executive Director Jim Blue says the new center is expected to serve about 750 teenagers annually. Staff and volunteers will work to guide the youth toward having permanent living conditions and community services access.
Blue said the number of young people living on their own seems to be increasing. Cedars street outreach program manager Christina Lloyd says many young adults who are too old for foster care aren’t comfortable looking for help alongside older adults.
“It will give an opportunity for kids who are in unsafe and sad situations to come in to get basic help, whether that’s food in their bellies, warm clothes, a telephone or use of computers,” said Blue.
Lloyd said the goal is to make the center a “safe space” for teens. Teens will be able to get hot meals, use a washer and dryer, or receive help applying for housing and jobs.
“For those kids who are ready to move beyond survival, this will help them get off the street permanently,” Blue said.
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Information from: Lincoln Journal Star, https://www.journalstar.com
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