Tough economic times hit homeless teens
MUSKEGON COUNTY, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Food, gas, and energy prices all took a major spike in July. We've all heard about families struggling to stay afloat, but the burden is also coming down hard on teenagers who have no one else to rely on.
Their struggles are evident at a homeless shelter for teens in Muskegon County. Newschannel 3 went to the shelter to hear their stories.
Webster House is a shelter for homeless teens who need help, but lately workers at the shelter have had trouble helping everyone who comes their way.
18-year-old Shayna and her five month old baby, Liliana, have been staying at Webster House for two weeks. She told Newschannel 3 that the first couple of nights at the shelter, there wasn't any room for her and she wound up sleeping on a couch.
"The baby's father broke up with me at my dad's house and he was the one paying the rent and he left so obviously I couldn't stay," Shayna said.
Shayna's story is all too familiar for Willie Wilson, the Director of Youth Services, who says that the bad economy is to blame for the increase in homeless teens. Half of them are teenage moms like Shayna, and Webster house is full.
"A lot of the young people are seeking our services in order to lessen the burden for their parents," Wilson said. He told Newschannel 3 that there are currently ten people on Webster House's waiting list and that "referrals come in pretty much on a daily basis, walk in or phone call, so as we speak, that ten may go up."
Wilson says that it's frustrating knowing that teenagers are on the streets simply because there isn't any room in Webster House, but workers are still doing all they can, knowing that every little bit counts.
