Local teenagers choose benches over beaches

By Cherry Sokoloski
Fossil Creek Current

While many of her classmates were basking in the tropical sun during spring break, Deanna Sweeney basked in the satisfaction of helping less fortunate people. Sweeney, a sophomore at Fossil Ridge High School, and 16 other teens from Poudre School District took part in a program called "24 Hours to Help the Homeless," sponsored by FirstCall.

The awareness event, in its third year, took place March 14 and 15 and included a brief camp-out on the Oak Street Plaza. Temperatures dropped to 12 degrees that night, so the group stayed outside only until 10 p.m. Even then, Sweeney said, she felt almost sick from the cold. "I don't know how the homeless people do it," she said.

Last year, Sweeney and fellow teens stayed on the plaza all night. The students all had heavy winter coats, sleeping bags and cardboard boxes, but heavy winds made the night a cold one. A homeless man in a lightweight windbreaker occupied the plaza at the same time, sleeping on a bench. "We were pretty posh compared to the guy on the bench," said Sweeney.

By participating in the project, Sweeney has learned a great deal about homelessness. "When I first moved here, I didn't even think we had homeless people," she said. "This project hits you smack in the face; whoa, it's a big problem."

The homeless population in Larimer County is estimated at 2,600 during the course of a year. Poudre School District serves more than 600 children who are considered homeless.

One of the most interesting parts of the project, Sweeney said, was talking to homeless people. At the plaza, the group shared soup with the homeless and listened to their stories. "Not all of them are drunks or drug addicts," Sweeney commented. One man who stopped by had been a very successful businessman, then lost his job and ended up on the streets. Other problems that lead to homelessness, Sweeney learned, include mental illness, family abuse and lack of good health insurance.

Sweeney was a member of this year's planning committee for the project. The group chose two agencies to help during the 24-hour period, Wingshadow and the Fort Collins Housing Authority. Wingshadow, which runs several services including a residential treatment center, sponsors an outreach program for homeless youth. The housing authority supplies housing for a limited number of homeless people until they can get back on their feet.

On March 14, the teens helped to fill backpacks for homeless youth. Wingshadow's outreach staff looks for young people on the streets who have no place to go, gives each a backpack filled with warm clothing, snacks and personal hygiene items and helps the youth find necessary resources.

Later in the day, the group moved to a housing project for homeless singles on East Myrtle Street. The residence, which houses 40 people for an average of two years, is one of three such units in Fort Collins. There is always a waiting list, according to Barbara Jensen of the housing authority.

At the group residence, the teens performed a number of tasks including yard work, cleaning and decorating several chairs with whimsical designs. Some of the chairs will be given to residents when they move on to independent housing, and a few will be saved for the housing authority's upcoming fund-raiser and auction.

Sweeney said she wasn't jealous of friends who were spending spring break on the beach. "I like helping people out; it's my big thing," she said. It's an ethic she learned at an early age, when her mother always made her share her toys with everyone else. The experiences with homeless people have made Sweeney even more generous. She now uses some of her job earnings to make contributions to charities, and every Christmas she buys toys for the Toys for Tots program.

This year's homeless project, Sweeney said, was "a good reminder that I should be thankful for what I have and be more interested in national politics."

The Fort Collins Housing Authority plans a fund-raiser, Journey Home, on April 16 at the Fort Collins Senior Center. For more information about the event, call 416-2910.