A New Mexico shelter is one step closer to its goal of ending youth homelessness. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded the Youth Shelter and Family Services center in Santa Fe $2 million just in time.
The center was in danger of reducing some of its services, but now it has the chance to expand its Street Outreach program. Director Shelly said the program is crucial for homeless youth who would otherwise go unseen.
“They actually deny that they’re homeless,” she explained, “and they may be sleeping outside, sleeping in a car. But because of the stigma that’s associated with homelessness they don’t want to present themselves as being homeless.“
Felt said the outreach program helps around 900 youths each year in Santa Fe. Some of the grant money will go toward funding the program, she said, as well as hiring a part-time employee to help run it.
