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- December 2004/January 2005: Gary Gorsuch hired as the Executive Director of Transitional Youth; TY began initial support of the boys’ house
- March 2005: determined a need for a house for girls and set June 2005 as target date to find a home
- April-May: began searching for a house to purchase for girls home; appointed two young women for heads of households
- May 10: after narrowing down selection of houses, selected one and after offer was accepted, set closing date for June 14, 2005
- Mid-May: Prudential Northwest Properties agents and Home Services vendors notified of the needs for girls home; furnishings, funds and various support began pouring in
- June 1: TY increased financial support of boys’ house
- June 15: closed on the girls’ house and all the donated household goods began arriving
- June 17: girls’ house was up and running! Enough was in place that heads of household and two former street girls moved in to the new home
- June-July: finishing touches made on girls’ house and more girls moved in; by the end of summer it was filled to capacity with 4-6 girls residing there (6 is maximum capacity)
- July 1: TY assumed full financial responsibility of the boys’ house, which has been consistently operating with 5 to 6 boys (6 is its maximum capacity)
- October 11: TY held its Advocacy Team meeting at the girls’ house, which was the first time the advocates had seen this home – all were impressed!
- November 1: selected/made offer on the house for the next home for boys, located in Vancouver, Washington
- New boys’ house is scheduled to open on January 1st, 2006 with two heads of household already selected and ready to move in!
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CASE STORY
Ann (age 17) has been on and off, mostly on, the streets as long as she can remember. Her mother, who’s fighting a losing battle with heroin, can’t take care of herself let alone provide the direction and support Ann needs. We recently found her crunched in a fetal position, sobbing uncontrollably in the far corner of our clothing room. She was coming down from a week-long drug binge. ‘They were giving it to me for free,’ she said. ‘I haven’t eaten for a week.’ With some compassion and listening we then offered food and clean clothes provided through Transitional Youth. After further words of hope and encouragement, Ann gradually began to wipe away her tears. Currently we still see Ann through ongoing contact but it’s not the same sobbing girl in the corner; now we see a young woman of resolve, moving forward to build a better life.
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