Homeless youth - WKTV Journal

A celebration of
holiday times past

Blandford Nature Center welcomes West Michigan families to join us at our Annual Pioneer Holiday Celebration on Saturday, Dec. 8th, 2018, from 12-4pm located at 1715 Hillburn Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504. The program is the perfect way to kick off the Grand Rapids holiday season with festive favorites and holiday traditions for guests of all ages to enjoy. Go here for more info.

Gentlefolk, mark
your calendars!

Calvin College’s 2019 January Series lineup features numerous noteworthy people, including Mary Robinson, president of Ireland from 1990-1997; Nicholas Kristof, a columnist for the New York Times and winner of two Pulitzer Prizes; and Rachael Denhollander, an advocate and educator who became known internationally as the first woman to file a police report and speak publicly against Larry Nassar. Go here for the details.

Give a kid a
(temporary) home

The goal of the Host Home Program is to connect young people with caring adult volunteers who are able to provide them with safe, temporary housing while they have time to repair relationships or make decisions about other housing options with the support of Arbor Circle staff. This community- and volunteer-based approach is available to young adults, ages 18-20, who are seeking to increase stability in their housing. Go here for more info.

By Arbor Circle

For some people, being resilient is a way of life. As early as five years old, one Arbor Circle Homeless Youth client was removed from her mother who was selling drugs. During the course of multiple foster home placements and other times when she was physically and sexually abused, she was separated from her siblings and left completely on her own.

She dropped out of school in the 9th grade and ran away — again — staying with friends and other family members for short periods of time. She lived this way for years.

She then began prostituting herself with landlords for places to stay. When she came to Arbor Circle to see about the Homeless Youth program, she had just been told to leave a shelter home.

The Bridge of Arbor Circle is a safe shelter program for youth who are facing homelessness or considering running away. In the middle of crisis, The Bridge offers youth a stable and accessible place to stay. Along with a variety of supportive programs,it helps them connect with peers, learn new skills, and find resources to reconnect with their families, schools and community.

How it works

The Bridge provides crisis shelter, counseling, case management, group support, youth activities and connections to other needed services, The Bridge assists youth with meeting their basic needs, setting goals, building new life skills, and establishing connections with peers and mentors who can support them. Services include:

Shelter services available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year for up to 21 days
Crisis Intervention
Intake/Assessment
Counseling
Case management
Placement
Community education and prevention services
Service learning opportunities for civic engagement

Eligibility

The Bridge services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year to youth in need of safe shelter and supportive services due to issues such as safety, runaway/homelessness, and/or disconnection from family, school or community. Services are available for:

Youth between the ages of 10-17, both Male and Female
Youth staying/residing in the Counties of Kent, Ottawa, Montcalm, and Ionia
Youth/families in crisis can call or walk in anytime
Services are free

Are you or is a youth you know homeless or considering running away? The Bridge can help. Call toll-free 1.877.275.7792 or call 616.451.3001.

Arbor Circle’s main campus is located at 1115 Ball Ave. NE in Grand Rapids. Phone 616.456.6571 for more information. The Bridge 24-hour Hotline is: 616.451.3001.