Lack of funding threatens to close oasis for at-risk teens
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SEATTLE -- Only generosity can keep a critical lifeline for struggling teenagers from shutting its doors.
Without a boost of cash, the Peace for the Streets by Kids is in danger of closing. Teens are desperately hoping someone will save the Capitol Hill youth center they have relied on for years.
The center has been around since 1985. Some of the kids who come here have mental health issues or drug problems. It's a where they can hang out, and get help turning their lives around.
Center user Shelly Hamilton wants a better future for herself and her baby.
"It's a good place for me to come to for me to finish my GED, and being able to bring my daughter," she said.
The center normally counts on donations and grants of more than $70,000. But that money has not come this year, and as a result, the center's doors could close in just days.
"Our students need the most support that they can get, and I honestly don't know of many places they can go outside of these door," said center director Olivia Pryor.
Since word has spread of the center's financial troubles, there has been an uptick in giving. The center also held an emergence fundraiser on Friday night. But it remains unclear whether the last-minute efforts will be enough.
In the meantime, the kids are hanging on.
"I made the choices I made -- that I needed to transition and I needed to build my community rather than destroy it. And this place showed me that I wasn't crazy and that I had the power to do that," said center user Cody Ingram.
The board for the nonprofit group will meet on Thursday night to tally the donations and make a decision.
Without a boost of cash, the Peace for the Streets by Kids is in danger of closing. Teens are desperately hoping someone will save the Capitol Hill youth center they have relied on for years.
The center has been around since 1985. Some of the kids who come here have mental health issues or drug problems. It's a where they can hang out, and get help turning their lives around.
Center user Shelly Hamilton wants a better future for herself and her baby.
"It's a good place for me to come to for me to finish my GED, and being able to bring my daughter," she said.
The center normally counts on donations and grants of more than $70,000. But that money has not come this year, and as a result, the center's doors could close in just days.
"Our students need the most support that they can get, and I honestly don't know of many places they can go outside of these door," said center director Olivia Pryor.
Since word has spread of the center's financial troubles, there has been an uptick in giving. The center also held an emergence fundraiser on Friday night. But it remains unclear whether the last-minute efforts will be enough.
In the meantime, the kids are hanging on.
"I made the choices I made -- that I needed to transition and I needed to build my community rather than destroy it. And this place showed me that I wasn't crazy and that I had the power to do that," said center user Cody Ingram.
The board for the nonprofit group will meet on Thursday night to tally the donations and make a decision.
The time I was able to spend with PSKS family will always be remembered and always be cherished; I felt like family from the moment I walked through the door, and I am sure that many others will say the same. When I was more alone then I wanted to be, I made it a point to stop in and say hello, and I was always welcomed by kind words warm smiles and genuine hugs. Everyone needs that in their life, especially those who usually just get the opposite treatment. PSKS is a place where the Street Kids know they can find a place to rest their weary bones, fill their hungry stomachs, and grow their beautiful minds. It's safety from the outside elements, a refuge from the unforgiving city. It greatly saddens my heart and spirit to know that such a wonderful and needed place may no longer be available to such a diversity of youth, who have already prevailed among the most improbable of odds. PSKS is a hearth where like minded individuals can openly and freely congregate and associate, where sharing truths, knowledge, philosophies, and experiences is encouraged; To take away such a defined community institution is too criminal. I hope and pray that the local and national philanthropic communities their-selves do recognize the impact you and PSKS have made on the lives of so many young and bright individuals and their children, and I will always be grateful for the same impact on myself. I regret that currently in the stage in life that I am in, I can not offer more than just my accolades, although I am one to hardly say this, I am sorry. May the blessings of the universe fall upon this cause, I give my blessings that are to give. Shalom.
"It's a where they can hang out,"
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Hang out?Â
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Groovy, man. like, let's shake this jive and split the scene, ya dig Baretta?
"A where..?"
 @Sid Vishess http://www.thefreedictionary.com/hang+out
When I was a teen I didn't have a "Oasis" to go to, I had chores, homework and hobbies to keep me busy. If I had any extra time, I would take my lawnmower around to the neighbors and beg to cut their lawn for a few $$$ so I could afford to buy more model airplanes to build. Nobody "gave" me a meeting place or "gave" me activities. I never had time or interest in doing drugs, smoking or getting girls pregnant. I had PARENTS who cared enough to whup my butt when I screwed up and praised me when I did good.
 @Glassman "I would take my lawnmower around to the neighbors and beg to cut their lawn for a few $$$"
So...are you ready to hire these kids - to give them those opportunities you were given when you were that age?
Or are you going to play the victim and cry about how you don't make enough money, pay too much in taxes, don't have time to lend a hand to someone who is at the edge of that cliff deciding which path to choose?
 @OrcasThunder Ready to eat your words, Orcas? My grandson comes over and asks if he can mow my lawn and I pay him $20 to mow my rather small yard. If any neighborhood kid came around wanting to mow my yard, I would provide the mower and pay them the same. Instead, the little punks throw their soda cups and burger wrappers in my yard for ME to clean up.
 @Glassman  @OrcasThunder "Ready to eat your words, Orcas?"
Sure - when it's called for.
This isn't one of those cases.
I wasn't talking about your pampered grandson, I was talking about the street kids who go to oasis this article is about.
 @Glassman These kids don't have parents or any good adult role models around. That's why they need a place like this.
 @Glassman So what's your point? Are you suggesting these kids should move in with your parents? Or maybe you, since you're obviously an expert.Â
 @Asa I would be delighted to have the young punks move in with my parents, since they are both dead. That would solve a lot of problems in today's society. As for having them move in with me, they wouldn't last a day. I wouldn't tolerate their BS any more than I did with my own. I grew up in an era where parents actively RAISED their children, instead of handing them over to daycare for someone else to tolerate them until it was time for them to go home and sleep.
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If the little ba$tards don't have parents, whose fault is THAT? Why should hard-working taxpayers foot the bill for some woman who is too stupid to practice birth control?
 @Glassman Yes, so did I. But some teens don't, and some do but choose to be rebellious anyway. And the rebellious ones deserve nothing, but I do feel an odd twinge of compassion for children with nothing, like some of these who rely on the youth center.
These are places we can't aford to let die. These children need to be helped out. Hey Bill! Got a dime for the home team?
What really makes me sad is that there are people out there willing to shell out $17,900 per person to attend a fundraiser for a presidential candidate, and yet an organization like THIS might have to close due to lack of funding. Priorities in this country are SERIOUSLY screwed up.
 @Wolfen I agree with you. The cuts need to start at the top not the bottom.