Denogean: Agency saves needy youths for 20 years

Published: 03.13.2007

Two decades ago, counselor Ann Young and teachers at Amphitheater = High=20 School wondered what they could do to help homeless teens beat the odds = and earn=20 diplomas.

"We had about 10 or 15 girls and boys who were 'couch kids,' living = from=20 couch to couch and struggling to maintain a stable home and stay in = school,"=20 Young said.

A homeless teen is 2.5 times less likely to receive a high school = diploma=20 than teens who aren't homeless

Young persuaded members of her church to set up a shelter. That = shelter,=20 which could serve a handful of teens at a time, evolved into Youth On = Their Own,=20 a program that provides monthly stipends and other support to hundreds = of=20 metro-area teens each year.

The program is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

It has helped teens meet their basic needs during times of crisis = that=20 would challenge the strongest of adults.

Shannon Dupper, 18, found Youth On Their Own in her senior year = when=20 horrific circumstances at home left her living with a friend's family. =

From age 14 to 17, Dupper was sexually abused by her father. When = she=20 finally reported him to authorities, John Allen Dupper was indicted on = multiple=20 felony charges. He was found guilty of two charges of sexual conduct = with a=20 minor under age 15, with the jury deadlocking on the remainder of the = case.=20

He cheated his daughter of justice when he committed suicide by = throwing=20 himself off the second floor of the Pima County Jail on the day he was = to be=20 sentenced.

"I had mixed emotions because one side of me was, 'He should have = done his=20 time. This isn't fair.' The other half of me was, 'That's my dad and my = dad is=20 now dead because he killed himself,' " Dupper said.

Despite the turmoil, Dupper graduated with her class at Marana High = School.=20 She credits Youth On Their Own with helping her finish by providing = money, food,=20 clothing and moral support.

"They treat you wonderfully," she said. "You're not just someone = who's=20 coming in. You go in and their faces light up. They make you feel warm. = They=20 make you feel like you're part of their family. If you need to talk to = them,=20 they'll talk to you.

"Around Christmas, they have a Christmas party, and everybody gets = a=20 present."

Dupper is studying sign language with plans to work as a court = interpreter.=20

"I know what it's like to be in the court system and how it feels = for=20 victims to go through all that stuff. And I know it's more difficult for = people=20 who are deaf because it's harder for them to get their story out. You = need a=20 good interpreter to have everything go right," she said.

Youth On Their Own operates on an annual budget of $1.18 million. =

Just 15 percent comes from government grants. The rest comes from = private=20 contributions and fundraising events.

When it started as a shelter, the program could serve about 10 = students a=20 year. Now it provides services to 500 to 600 teens annually, said Mary=20 Gruensfelder-Cox, executive director.

It has helped more than 8,600 youths over the two decades, she = said.

If the number seems greater than the population of homeless teens = you've=20 seen on the street, that's because "homeless teen" is defined as any = youth=20 without a safe and permanent home, she said.

They may be camping out on a friend's couch or moving from one = relative's=20 home to another.

Every student in the program is expected to stay out of trouble, = regularly=20 attend school and earn passing grades.

They receive $125 a month for living expenses, as well as help = obtaining=20 other necessities, from food and housing to medical and dental services. =

"If I needed food, they'd say, 'OK, this is what we can do for = you,' "=20 Dupper said. "If I needed clothing, they'd say, 'We can help you out = with that.'=20 Any toiletries or things like that, they helped me with. School = supplies? They=20 helped me with school supplies."

Without Youth On Their Own's assistance over the years, it's fair = to say=20 many of the teens the program has served would have been not only = homeless but=20 also lost for good.