Notes from interview conducted by Margaret Bradburn on January 18, 2006

Interviewed was Michael Robinson, case manager for Community Works and Liaison for Homeless Kids at Eagle Point High School.  In this interview, we focused on his position of liaison for homeless teenagers at the high school. 

Michael Robinson's first statement to me was that his job is "tough" because of limited funds.   

(After spending over an hour with Michael, I feel that he is a caring, sensitive person who genuinely wants to help his clients.)  

I began by asking his criteria for "homeless teenagers".  Michael, like the others I had previously interviewed, shared the same definition of homeless: couch-surfers, foster kids and kids living in motels with their families. 

There are about ninety homeless teenagers that fit into this category that he is aware of.

 There are more homeless girls than homeless boys.  These girls want to be taken care of and consequently, get into bad situations with males.  Unfortunately, they also get pregnant. 

Michael Robinson, like all the other people I had interviewed, is frustrated by lack of funding.  His budget for the year is $2000 through the McKinney- Ventro grant.  Already, over $800 is gone and this is only January!  I asked how he spent the money.  It was spent on food, Christmas gifts, clothes and other necessities for his clients.  

While small children can be dressed in donated clothing, teenagers are affected by peer-pressure and consequently, Michael bought some clothes for his homeless clients at Wal-Mart.  Teens need to fit in and the clothes at Wal-Mart, while not expensive, are more current in style.  This helps the self-esteem of these youth 

Factors that lead to homelessness:   

1. The high cost of rent in the Rogue Valley, coupled with poverty level wages. 

2. A huge trend to turn away from the family concept, with the result that the number of split families is growing.   There is also a lack of desire to care for children in a responsible way, particularly with teenagers.  Parents are no longer interested in parenting.  This is trend is growing. 

3. There is also heavy drug use, abuse and domestic violence at home.

 In the Upper Rogue (Eagle Point and White City), homeless teens are not sleeping in parks and such.  These teens are primarily couch-surfers.  In this area, there are many "good Samaritans" willing to help these homeless teens.  Unfortunately, the kids become a burden after a while and are asked to leave. 

Homeless teens are able to get Oregon Trail cards and Oregon Health Plan, which does help. 

I asked Michael how he finds his clients.  He works off referrals from counselors.  That of course does not cover all homeless teens in the area.  Teens have pride and some do not report their status of homelessness to their teachers and counselors.   

The poverty-stricken families in this area work frequently for stores such as Wal-Mart, with low wages.  Michael sees a definite lack of desire to get ahead.  These citizens are willing to settle for minimum wages.  They don't see a need to better themselves and thus, improve the lot of their families.  Consequently, these families live from paycheck to paycheck.  They can't afford to be warm and they live in sub-standard housing.  Many times these families end up homeless. 

These people do not think "outside the box".  This lack of initiative is like a mental disease.

These people do not want to move out of the system. 

We discussed the community awareness of homeless teenagers.  It is hush-hush.  It is not discussed.  There is definitely a lack of awareness.   

Michael says that churches are "tapped out".  I had asked him if he was able to utilize churches to help his homeless clients. 

Homeless teens are not generally users of drugs or alcohol.   Marijuana is the drug of choice, when used.  

(Incidentally, there are already huge amounts of drugs in middle schools and sex parties.) 

A problem for homeless teens is that any kind of sports or other esteem building activities cost money.  To play football for example is $200.  This does not include purchasing food on trips or other expenses.  Michael, also a coach, has bought "hamburgers" out of his own pocket for youth on occasion.   The disadvantaged just do not have the money.  Previously, school systems had the resources for these activities and anyone could participate.

Oregon does not receive the same amount of federal dollars as larger states, such as California.

What homeless teens need, is finding anyone who will listen to them and whom they can confide in.  They need to trust someone.  It gives them a sense of belonging.   

Who can help?

Volunteers at schools and community works. 

Michael and I discussed that we feel what is needed in the education system is a "life training" class.  This would be a class that would teach students to work, handle checking accounts, how to resource and how to be responsible parents.  In other words, teach skills for life.  In order to get people out of poverty levels, we need to educate our youth before they become parents and workers.  Be proactive, not reactive.  We need to teach values to these future parents. 

Because of lack of funding for homeless youth, Michael feels that a possible answer is to perhaps charge a sales tax or just to overhaul the tax system.  This would provide revenue to help the disadvantaged and the schools.  The money needs to be earmarked for schools and programs.  More resources are needed! 

I agree.  I had no idea how much poverty there is and the social problems that go with it. 

White City is a melting pot with a huge uneducated population.  There are many Hispanics who seem to have gravitated to the area because the rents are lower than elsewhere. 

Each and every school should have a homeless liaison.  Michael's program is a one of a kind program now but needs to expand. 

Michael said that in a "perfect world" every school would have its own center, with staff.  This center would be for homeless students to do laundry, get food, stay warm and make phone calls.  These homeless youth would be housed and policed at these "safe" centers.  Each school would take care of it's own. 

I asked Michael what would be the most important thing League of Women Voters could do for homeless youth.  He said bring "AWARENESS' to the community! 

Notes, respectfully submitted by Margaret Bradburn, League of Women Voters, Rogue Valley.