2/19/2010 12:14:00 PM Homeless teen mothers find refuge in residential home Resource for desperate moms and their children, Teen Haven, to hold its annual tag day
* Photo by Sarah Lagan. Teen team: From left is Teen Haven on-call caseworker Rosalyn Harvey, case manager Adina McCallan, case worker Marie Jackson, programme coordinator and social worker Nina Jones, and executive director Michelle Wade.
Many of us are used to the disturbing sight of homeless people on the streets, in the parks and on the benches of Bermuda.
More often than not they are male, typically middle-aged or older. Some may ask you for money, some may just wish you a good day.
But there is one demographic we are not so familiar with - teenage single mothers. There is a whole group of vulnerable young women and their children who, for one reason or another, have found themselves with nowhere to live and no one to turn to.
Fortunately for them, Teen Services runs Teen Haven, a residential programme for 16 to 24-year-olds with a proven record of getting these women back on their feet and living independently.
The organization, located next to Fort Hamilton, offers temporary accommodation and counselling to the mothers as well as a parenting programme with life skills training. They even go as far as helping women through their GEDs and finding work and accommodation.
On February 26 and 27 the organization will be holding its annual tag day to help raise money for this crucial cause.
Teen Services and Teen Haven's executive director Michelle Wade said: "There is a population of women from teenage to mid 20s and they are difficult to get on the radar as they are able to conceal it better. They go from family member to family member until they have nowhere else to go.
"The homeless are not just the people you see on the benches."
Good success rate
According to Teen Haven's most recent progress report, in 2007 half of all homeless mothers who joined the residential programme went on to live independently while 40 per cent were relocated with family and 10 per cent found housing with the Bermuda Housing Corporation.
The all-female staff is made up of case workers, case managers, a programme coordinator and social worker.
The facility has eight rooms which Ms Wade says are occupied most of the time.
She said: "We would love to accommodate more but we can't do that. There is a need not just to accommodate teens but families period while they are in transition from house to house.
"We could do with one more facility. We have had to turn people away before."
The two tag days run from 8am to 5pm and take place in various locations around the island including the Phoenix Centre, Market Place stores and all three banks.
Teen Haven is looking for volunteers including tag sellers. Last year it raised $16k and it is hoped it will raise the same if not more this year. As well as raising money the organization hopes to raise awareness about its services.
If you would like to find out more about Teen Services, need their assistance or know anyone who may need their help visit www.teenservices.info or call 292-4598. You should also contact this number if you wish to volunteer for the tag day.
Teen Services is located at Bay View, 4 Happy Valley Road, Hamilton.
