Homeless teens find help, understanding at Burchell High event

WASILLA — Christmas came early Saturday for dozens of Valley teens at Burchell High School.

While many of their peers clamor for the latest iPad or video game, these teenagers were humble and happy accepting things many of their peers take for granted — food, clothing and a haircut. They’re among the hundreds of Valley youth considered “in transition,” which means they’re either homeless or don’t have a stable place to call home.

Last year, the Mat-Su Borough School District identified more than 900 in-transition students. Of those, more than 300 were high school students. This school year, of the 262 students at BHS, 102 have been identified as homeless.

These young men and women, however, are more than statistics, said Brandon, a 19-year-old who was homeless for three years. Now, he stays with his girlfriend and her family, along with their 17-month-old daughter. But from ages 13-16, he spent many nights couch surfing or wherever he could unroll his sleeping bag.

“I always had a sleeping bag with me,” he said. “I had friends at school, and I always looked forward to the weekends, because I may have a chance to stay in a house. Outside, I’ve slept under little bridges out here. I’ve slept under trees. I’ve slept near a swamp and I made my own little place there. A lot of people would be ashamed to say they sleep in a place like that, but that was a lot better than nothing.”

Brandon’s story is not unique, said Michael Carson, a retired MSBSD teacher and advocate for unaccompanied youth. Many teens find themselves cast off by parents who have other problems to deal with, he said. Others are left homeless after a parent dies while another is incarcerated.

Financial problems, especially during times of economic downturn, create a lot of family stress, Carson said. “I think what happens is sometimes the stress creates relationships that get strained, and that can just escalate. I’ve heard of situations where parents literally abandon their kids because of the financial stress.”

In Brandon’s case, his mother’s alcoholism led to his father abandoning himself, his mother, brother and sister.

“My parents split up when I was 10. Mom was a severe alcoholic. My dad always said she’s a wonderful lady, but with a horrible problem,” he said. “He put up with it for a long, long time and he couldn’t do it anymore and he left. Since then, he hasn’t really been in the picture for me at all.”

At the time, Brandon’s family was living in a nice, three-story house in the Valley. When the house was foreclosed on, they moved into a small, two-bedroom house, then into a tiny cabin without running water they shared with friends. He would shower by “body washing myself in the snow.”

It’s no wonder that many homeless teens have trouble in school, Brandon said.

It’s difficult to concentrate on studies and homework when you’re constantly thinking about where you’re going to sleep that night or when you’ll eat next.

“There was a point where I didn’t have a place to stay at all for three years,” he said. “I was just kind of all over the place. It was really tough. My worry every day was where am I sleeping tonight? It really sucked, but I had to make do with what I had.”

Brandon’s story may be shocking to some, but it is one Michelle Overstreet and Carson have heard before. Sometimes a teen is left fending for him or herself when a drug-addicted parent dies. Other times, youth run away to escape physical and emotional abuse.

Then there are the predators. Sometimes teens think they’ve found a kind soul who will let them stay with them, then learn later there’s a price to pay for that kindness. For boys, that could mean manual labor. For some girls, the options are far worse.

“We know, unfortunately, there are some individuals out there that look for that kind of target,” Carson said. “Some of these kids are just wearing signs that say, ‘I’m a victim.’”

On Saturday, Burchell High was buzzing with activity as teens were allowed to look through the clothing and other donated items — a large portion collected at this year’s Potato Bowl football game between Wasilla and Palmer high schools — and even get a haircut. That’s a luxury many take for granted, Overstreet said.

“People always said, ‘What does it mean, how does this happen?’” she said. “Sometimes the father dies and the mother is in jail. One of my favorite boys, the mom died from alcohol and drugs and the dad is in jail. He’s 17, he doesn’t want to go into foster care, but it’s hard. He’s trying to finish high school and has a full-time job and is looking for a place to stay every night.”

Seeing how much basic necessities like food and clothing means to these youths is humbling, Overstreet said.

“The kids have been lined up all morning just getting haircuts and everything,” she said. “Last year, we did this event at the end of December on the way into the holiday season, and by then I had picked up two boys who had blue lips it was so cold. I thought that we needed to do this earlier in the year.”

It’s not just the teens who benefit from events like Saturday’s, said Sherrille Connell, a stylist at Hair Care Specialists. She, along with a pair from Wavelengths Hair Design, spent the morning giving free haircuts.

“The kids are great, and the girls are beautiful,” Connell said. “We’re having a great time and we’re having a lot of fun giving them something they can enjoy. It’s a nice treat for them. I feel great, it’s great to volunteer and make them feel good.”

One of the biggest obstacles in helping homeless teens in the Valley is the teens themselves are often reluctant or embarrassed to seek help, Brandon said.

“I think that’s how some people feel about it,” he said. “It’s one of those things for me, ask no questions; don’t ask, don’t tell.”

Brandon offered a piece of advice for other young people who find themselves without a stable home: speak up.

“Don’t be scared to tell somebody,” he said. “Don’t feel like you can’t talk to anybody or they’re going to look down on you. You’re a human being, just like anybody else. Some people have more hard times than others. For me, (talking to someone) definitely would’ve helped.”

Teens wanting to talk to someone, or adults who may know of a homeless teen, can call Overstreet at Burchell High School at 373-7775.

Contact Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2269.