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New, 14-Unit Facility For Homeless Teen Girls Opens In South Eugene

Brian Bull
/
KLCC

Today in Eugene, hundreds packed a new housing facility for homeless teen girls. KLCC’s Brian Bull reports.

The St. Vincent de Paul Youth House is a newly-renovated space, in what used to be the Cascade-Presbyterian Church. Nearly $2 million was raised for the project, which has 14 apartments and a counseling office.

Terry McDonald is Executive Director of St. Vinnie’s, which worked with city governments and non-profit agencies on the Youth House.  In a standing-room only crowd celebrating its completion, he says it’ll help struggling homeless teens finish school and find jobs.

Credit Brian Bull / KLCC
/
KLCC
Terry McDonald, Executive Director of St. Vincent de Paul, addresses a full house at today's celebration.

“How else can you better serve somebody than to find a place for them to live? That’s safe and decent, and of course, a place that they can get mentoring to get on with their lives," McDonald tells KLCC. 

"So it really serves as a bridge from a difficult past to a hopeful future.”

A facility for homeless boys starts construction later this year in the Bethel area.

At least 400 homeless teens are enrolled in Eugene, Springfield, and Bethel schools.

Copyright 2018, KLCC.

Brian Bull is an assistant professor of journalism at the University of Oregon, and remains a contributor to the KLCC news department. He began working with KLCC in June 2016.   In his 27+ years as a public media journalist, he's worked at NPR, Twin Cities Public Television, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, Wisconsin Public Radio, and ideastream in Cleveland. His reporting has netted dozens of accolades, including four national Edward R. Murrow Awards (22 regional),  the Ohio Associated Press' Best Reporter Award, Best Radio Reporter from  the Native American Journalists Association, and the PRNDI/NEFE Award for Excellence in Consumer Finance Reporting.
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