Member News

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Gov. Sean Parnell signed a bill into law Tuesday that will help out shelters for homeless youth.

Senate Bill 307, sponsored by the Health and Social Services Committee, adds a new section in statute addressing shelter capacity in licensed programs for runaway youth.

Federal law limits capacity at 20, but Covenant House was over that and could have lost $100,000 if the state law didn't get changed, as the feds defer to states.

By Jade Ortego
Killeen Daily Herald

BELTON — The United Way of Central Texas recognized Central Texas Youth Services, an organization that provides emergency shelter and transitional living for runaway or otherwise homeless youth, and its director, Keith Wallace, as its Agency of the Year.

During the Bell County commissioners court meeting Monday, Wallace was recognized for his work with troubled youth. Central Texas Youth Services' Option House, which has been running for more than three decades, is the only licensed emergency home for youth in Central Texas, Wallace said.

Country music star Jimmy Wayne knows what it's like to be homeless.

Wayne grew up in a variety of foster homes and occasionally found himself homeless as a teen. He was given a second chance at the age of 16 when a 70-year-old couple, Bea and Russell Costner, gave him a home and fresh start when he was only 16 years old. He has never forgotten the generosity of the couple.

The Dream Walkers are four young people who have now walked across the Country for over 100 days and 1,000 miles.  They started out on January 1 from their homes in Florida and their destination is the White House.  These young people are a lot like everyday youth in all our communities - they come from the same circumstances, they have the same hopes.  The only difference?  They don’t have papers.  But these youth are not afraid, and they have decided to take action, big-time, to make their plight known and to create justice for our communities.   <