May 5, 2010

Standing up for homeless youths

By John Gleason

But to the 50 young people spending the weekend here, it’s a sanctuary.  These youngsters who otherwise live on the streets of Denver wondering where their next meal is coming from found a temporary home in this church basement April 30-May 2.

The weekend event is called 48 Hours and is sponsored by the local chapter of Stand Up for Kids, a nonprofit organization committed to the rescue of street youths.  Founded in 1990, this volunteer organization reaches out to young people in 40 cities across the country.  The purpose of the 48 Hours experience is to give homeless youths a chance to get off the streets, have a few good meals and, hopefully, give serious thought to turning their lives around. Other chapters sponsor similar events to the one in Denver, some incorporating the event into a 48 Hour Walk. 

The event took place at Central Presbyterian Church located at 16th and Sherman streets in downtown Denver. Other sponsors included Holy Protection of the Mother of God Byzantine Catholic Church, St. Vincent de Paul Church, Torres & Torres Attorney’s at Law, the YMCA, King Soopers and Papa John’s Pizza.

Tanya Cangelosi, youth minister at Holy Protection Church and founder of Denver Homeless Ministry (DHM), a Catholic apostolate for young adults to provide service to the homeless, helped organize the 48 Hours weekend.

“It’s an outreach,” she said, “to help kids find a solution for the struggles they are going through.”

The youths are given an opportunity to participate in a number of activities ranging from getting a shower, a haircut and doing laundry to learning self defense, getting legal advice and learning to play drums. Cangelosi said this was the second year 48 Hours had been hosted in Denver.  Last year they drew five kids, this year at least 50.

“We’ll for sure do this again next year,” she said.  “It was exhausting but so much fun—for us and the kids.  The girls commented it felt like they were at a spa with the haircuts, nails, makeup and take home cosmetics and toiletries. The guys loved the drums, basketball at the Y and video games. Everyone loved the movies, self defense … and all the other fun activities we had throughout the weekend.”

Although Stand Up for Kids is not a faith-based program, a Catholic presence was obvious during the weekend from the habited Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia serving dinner Friday night, to “drum teacher” Byzantine Catholic pastor Father Michael O’Loughlin of Holy Protection, to the Denver Homeless Ministry young adults serving lunch on Saturday.

For the youths who choose to spend the night, the church doors are locked at 10 p.m. and open again the next morning at 6 a.m.

The weekend is a vacation from the harsh reality of the youths’ regular world.

There are as many as 2.8 million children and teens homeless in this country, according to Cangelosi. Many stay on the streets or in emergency shelters. 

“Families with children are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population,” Cangelosi said, “and each day 13 homeless youth die due to physical assault, illness or suicide.”

To survive, Cangelosi said, youths panhandle, sell drugs, shoplift and prostitute themselves.

At the front door to the church, the youths are greeted by a poster that says,” Welcome to 48 Hours: No drugs, no weapons, no stealing and no pets.” 

The volunteers usually don’t have much trouble with the first three violations, Cangelosi said, but a lot of street kids have pets.  Most are dogs, but not all. During lunch May 1, as youths stand around a gas grill in the alley behind the church watching hamburgers being cooked, a girl walks up with a brown and white rat perched on her shoulder.

“His name is Hoody,” she tells no one in particular, picks up a burger and walks away. 

Adam is originally from Florida.  The 20-year-old is of average height, wiry with muscular arms and dressed all in black.  Since arriving in Denver five years ago he’s been living on the street, although he sometimes he stays with friends.  Sitting down to talk, he removes his knit cap revealing a thick head of green hair. 

Adam said he likes the people and the surroundings of the weekend.  He’s familiar with Stand Up and knows the volunteers quite well.  He’s here because he has no where else to go.

“I came last night and didn’t intend to stay,” he said. “But I knew breakfast would be waiting when I woke up so I slept here.”
The 48 Hours weekend is different from an average day for Adam. 

“If I get up early enough, I can get a sandwich from volunteers down at Auraria,” he said, describing a typical day.  “But I don’t usually wake up that early. I can get some handouts over on Larimer Street—something to eat and coffee.”

At one time Adam worked as a short order cook but he admits he hasn’t been employed for a long time now.

“I had some trouble with the law,” he said, “and felonies make it tough to get a job.”

Adam said he plans to return to the street when the weekend is over. Asked about his future and what he might want to do eventually, he shrugs his shoulders.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I’ll just have to create something on my own.”

Rico is 21 and has been on the street for three years.  In foster care as a child, when he turned 18, the system simply let him go.  He said he met up with the wrong sort of people, got involved with drugs and had several confrontations with the law.  Two weeks ago he was released from jail after serving four months for distributing drugs.  Rico said the 48 Hours weekend gives him a chance to get away from the hustle of the street to rest and “Get my mind right.” 

For the volunteers, a key part of their job is to listen and be available to help both those who want to get off the streets as well as those who simply want help to get through the next day.  

 “We listen, we interact and have access to materials at our disposal so if they’re ready we’ll help them get back to school or find an apartment,” Cangelosi said.  “But it has to be what they want.”

An admitted long-time marijuana user, Rico said he knows he needs to change. He sees coming to 48 Hours as a place to begin.

“At some point you have to say, ‘Enough is enough,’” he said. “After the weekend, I’m hoping to get some help and get into a drug treatment program.”
Rico said he wants to make a better life for himself and his 2-year-old son.

“I want to get my life together,” he said. “Go back to school and maybe start my own business.”