Providing a Path for Homeless Teens

COLLIER COUNTY IS THE HIGHEST INCOME COUNTY IN ALL OF FLORIDA. THAT'S ACCORDING TO TAX WATCH. AND THERE ARE MORE THAN 1200 HOMELESS KIDS IN THE SAME COUNTY. SO HOW DO YOU TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE? WELL, THAT'S WHAT OUR WGCUS KATE CRONIN SET OUT TO FIND OUT. ONE SHELTER. HUNDREDS OF KIDS. ONE GOAL TAKE CARE OF AS MANY KIDS AS POSSIBLE. >> YOUTH HAVEN IS THE ONLY EMERGENCY AND RESIDENTIAL SHELTER FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS IN COLLIER COUNTY. >> NOW IT IS IN THE MIDST OF A BIG UPGRADE AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW. THE SHELTER IS LIMITED TO CARING FOR ABOUT 70 KITS, A NEW THERAPEUTIC ENRICHMENT CENTER TO EXPAND THOSE CAPABILITIES. >> WE'RE NOW IN A POSITION OF THIS BUILDING TO EXPAND THOSE SERVICES FROM A MEDITATION YOGA STUDIO, A MUSIC STUDIO, A STEM LAB, A FAMILY REUNIFICATION ROOM FOR PARENTS TO MEET WITH THEIR CHILDREN AS THEY'RE WORKING TO REUNIFY WITH THEIR CHILDREN. ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS OFTENTIMES HAVE THERAPEUTIC COMPONENTS AND CHILDREN THINK THAT THEIR FUN, BUT THEY REALLY HELP THEM HEAL FROM THE TRAUMA. THE BUILDING IS MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY OLD. >> WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE WITH THE NEW EXPANSION? THE PLAN IS A 22,000 SQUARE-FOOT BUILDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE TELFORD BUILDING WHICH SITS AT THE HEART OF YOUTH HAVENS GROUNDS. CEO LINDA GOLDFIELD BROKE GROUND ALONGSIDE AN HK ARCHITECTURE FOUNDER MATTHEW CROWN AND CONTRACTOR CHRIS CURRENT FROM CARIBBEAN CONSTRUCTION. >> THE FIRST TOUR I TOOK OF THE CAMPUS WITH LINDA AND SHE TOLD ME AROUND SHE SHOULD BE ABOUT THE HARDSHIPS THAT THESE KIDS HAVE HAD OVER THE YEARS BEING AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILIES BEING IN A DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT AND, YOU KNOW, JUST KIND OF THINKING ABOUT HOW I RAISE MY CHILDREN AND MY OWN CHILDHOOD AND JUST THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW WHAT THESE KIDS HAVE GONE THROUGH AND THE HARDSHIPS THAT THEY FACE. AND IT'S SO FANTASTIC THAT THERE'S A AN ORGANIZATION LIKE THIS IN COLLIER COUNTY THAT HELPS THESE KIDS. BUT WE ALL HAVE TO PITCH IN. AND THAT'S KIND OF WHY WE'RE HERE. >> SO HOW DID THIS COME TO FRUITION? IT'S A 20 MILLION DOLLAR UNDERTAKING MADE POSSIBLE BY GENEROUS DONORS. HK ARCHITECTURE SIGNED ONTO THE PROJECT, PRO BONO INCURRING ON CONSTRUCTION PRESENTED A CHECK FOR THEIR SHARE OF THE PROFITS AT THE CEREMONY. >> WE DID THIS JOB. WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY INTEND TO DO THAT. BUT AS WE GOT TO KNOW, THE TEAM AND THE FOLKS IT YOU SAVE IN EXACTLY WHAT THEY DO FOR THESE KIDS. JUST IT TUGS AT MY HEART, MY PARTNER'S HEART. AND IT HITS HOME FOR ME A LITTLE BIT. YOU KNOW, GROWING UP. I DIDN'T HAVE IT AS BAD AS THESE KIDS, BUT I CAN DEFINITELY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE GOING THROUGH. AND, YOU KNOW, HOW COULD YOU NOT WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT? AND SO THE DONATION $100,000 DONATION WAS REALLY A SIMPLE, SIMPLE DECISION. YOUTH HAVEN SAYS IT HAS A 90% SUCCESS RATE, ENSURING THAT HOMELESS TEENS DO NOT BECOME HOMELESS ADULTS. >> GOLD FIELDS SAYS MANY CHILDREN WERE REMOVED FROM THEIR HOMES DUE TO NEGLECT, ABUSE OR HOMELESSNESS. THE SHELTER IS INTENDED TO BE A TEMPORARY HOUSING SITUATION, BUT SOME STAY FOR UP TO 4 YEARS WITH NOWHERE ELSE TO GO. >> PRIOR TO CHILDREN AGAIN, OFTENTIMES ADULTS HAVE DISAPPOINTED THEM AND FOR THEM TO SEE THAT THE COMMUNITY CARES ABOUT THEM AND HE'S HERE TO UPLIFT THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE BRIGHTER FUTURES AND BETTER OUTCOMES IS REALLY WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT. >> THE BUILDING IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY NEXT MAY WALKING THROUGH THE GROUNDS HANDPRINTS OF CURRENT AND FORMER RESIDENTS COVER THE COTTAGES LEAVING THEIR MARK ON. YOU PAY THEM. THIS LOAN SHELTER GIVES HOMELESS TEENS KIDS IN FOSTER CARE AND ANYONE IN BETWEEN A TRUE SAFE HAVEN FOR NEWS WITH AMANDA OR I'M KATE CRONIN.