San Francisco Chronicle - April 4, 2006
Jason B. Johnson, jbjohnson@sfchronicle.com and Carolyn Jones, carolynjones@sfchronicle.com.

After suffering through months of toothaches, Dexter has seen a dentist.

"It's helpful, definitely," he said before eating a hot dog. "Next, I'm going to get a new pair of glasses."

Dexter, who declined to give his last name, was among 60 or so homeless young people who got some help Monday at Berkeley's first one-stop service outreach program event at a youth homeless shelter on University Avenue. Homeless people age 25 and under could get HIV tests and medical care; learn how to finish their education, find work or quit drugs; have their dogs examined; get a library card; or even learn to fix their bicycles.

"I think it's really cool they're doing this," said a 23-year-old woman who declined to give her name. "A lot of people need help. I came because I need to get my dog fixed."

Modeled after a program pioneered in San Francisco, Youth Connect is meant to offer services that can help kids gain self-sufficiency. The city plans to host Youth Connect events throughout the year.

"A lot of these kids fall through the cracks, and we wanted to do something about it," said Mayor Tom Bates, who visited Monday's event to talk with the kids, volunteers and city staff. "We felt that if we focus on this population, who are new to homelessness, we could make a difference and hopefully set them on the road to education, employment, housing."

Berkeley has long been a magnet for homeless youth, and their numbers -- particularly downtown and on the south side of the UC Berkeley campus -- invariably rise during the spring and summer.

Last year, the city's Youth Emergency Assistance Hostel -- known as YEAH! -- served more than 200 young people.

On average, they had been homeless for more than 2 1/2 years. More than a third had been in foster care or a group home, and more than half did not have a high school diploma.

"What we know from just being on our streets, particularly around Shattuck Avenue and Telegraph, is that there is a high demand for resources, and it's probably one of the most underserved populations," said Julia Sinai, an aide to Bates.

Although a count of the city's homeless in 2004 found 835 people living on the street, it's difficult to know how many of them were young. Homeless youth often avoid social workers and traditional assistance programs, Sinai said. But YEAH! typically houses 45 people each night during the winter. The hostel is closed the rest of the year.

Some Berkeley residents complain that many of the youth are homeless by choice, drawn to Berkeley by its liberal leanings and the wish to live a countercultural lifestyle. But a good number of them come from broken homes, and advocates say they genuinely need help.

The five-hour program offered services in 11 areas, including medical, employment and education. Help was given on the spot -- for example, young people could get eye exams and, if they needed glasses, get a free pair right away.

060404
SC060402

Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2006. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 2006. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .