By Pam Landry, Register Correspondent

NEW HAVEN — It’s no surprise that in a down economy, there is an increase in the homeless population.

But what may be surprising is a growing segment of the homeless population that often goes unnoticed: homeless youth.

National statistics show 1.6 million youths between 12 and 17, and 2.5 million youths between 16 and 24, experience homelessness annually.

The reasons behind youth homelessness vary, but the increase in numbers is clear.

“In 2009, we had 219 new intakes of homeless youth as compared to 110 in 2008,” said Michelle Doheny, director of Fund Development for Youth Continu-um, a not-for-profit agency that serves at-risk youth ages 14 to 23. “The typical ages we see are between 18 and 23.”

Youth Continuum was founded in 1966 by two Yale professors and is a multi-service agency focusing on the successful transition of homeless youth into adulthood.

Youth in need can obtain housing, emergency shelter, food, clothing, counseling and education and employment assistance through Youth Continuum.

The individual needs of each youth who comes to the agency are evaluated and housing, counseling and comprehensive supervision are provided as deemed appropriate.

At the heart of Youth Continuum is the homeless outreach program.

“We are seeing an increase in the amount of kids being discharged by DCF who have no backup plan and are coming here,” said Raycean Wright, the agency’s lead outreach worker. Continued...

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Wright said that the bulk of the kids coming through the agency are what are termed ‘couch hoppers,’ meaning although they may be going to school or working they are moving from place to place with no real home base.

“Many of the youth who come to us have trust issues,” said Doheny. “They’ve often been neglected and abused so coming here is a big step for many of them.”

“Our door is always open,” said Kathy Grega, program director. “Sometimes they just come in for help with finding a job or for some specific need. They might go away and then come back for help later if their situation should change again.”

The MacMullen Education Training and Enrichment Center at 924 Grand Ave. was established in 2005 and serves to enhance the academic, social and artistic achievements of the youth who enter the agency’s programs. The center is the hub of Youth Continuum, offering such services as a computer lab, art room, recreation room and a kitchen.

The center often is used as a drop-in place for youth in the agency’s programs, whether it is to use computers for job hunting, to share a meal or simply to socialize.

“We place an element of responsibility on the youth,” said Grega.

Those who come to the agency are required to go through the intake process, with a one-on-one evaluation done to determine their individual needs.

Doheny stressed that the agency’s programs are not a handout.

“We will ‘work’ on their lives as much as they are willing to ‘work’ on their own lives,” said Doheny. Youth Continuum has a 24/7 contact number for youth in need: 203-777-8445.

The agency can also be found on the Web at www.youthcontinuum.org.

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