by David Chapman
Staff Writer
Becoming a legal adult at age 18 doesn’t necessarily mean youths are mature enough to handle the adult world.
For disconnected youths — those without a family or support system and in need of assistance — turning 18 can mean outside help is no longer available and that the odds are mounting.
According to a 2004 Annie E. Casey Foundation study, it’s those disconnected youths between 16 and 21 that are the “most vulnerable young people,” with data showing these youth are frequently incarcerated, dependent on public assistance, homeless and in substance abuse programs.
One local organization is looking to curb that trend.
The Youth Crisis Center (YCC) broke ground Wednesday on Touchstone Village, a three building, $6 million expansion that will house the aforementioned group and help them become self-sufficient.
“Lives are going to be touched,” said City Council member Kevin Hyde, who is the current YCC chair. “This is a place youths are going to be able to come to and feel comfortable.”
The facility will include a 24,000-square-foot building to house and provide services for 16-17 year olds, a two-story apartment building for 18-21 year olds and a 3,000-square-foot recreation center to be used for meetings and social events.
The 18-21 year olds will be required to pay rent and utilities. They will also get counseling from professionals to help ease the transition into living and working in the community.
A line of bed sheets — used as a curtain for the event — were drawn back to show the land where the center will be built, also revealing Ayak Roll and a makeshift tent.
“I didn’t spend the night out here,” said Roll during her introduction, referring to the tent, “but in about a year, 40 people will be able to stay right here.”
The tent, said Roll, is an example of the type of lodging that runaways and disconnected youths can resort to without a place to go.
At an early age, Roll and her family fled to the United States from their native Sudan. After her father’s death, Roll’s mother and sister turned to alcohol and Roll turned away from them. Soon after, she found herself at the YCC and is now a center success story.
“I was fortunate,” she said. “But I am very thankful. I can see myself here.”
Roll most likely will be one of the first residents of Touchstone Village, while she continues to pursue her goal of entering a four-year nursing program. She said she’d like to stay close to the area for good.
Other former beneficiaries also lauded the efforts of the facility and told of their time at the center.
“A place like this is very important,” said 18-year-old Darryl Tucker, who stayed at the YCC and will also be a part of the youth committee. “It will be a safe, secure place to go and have a roof over your head.”
Tucker, now an amateur boxer with Team Savior Sports, said he would like to continue making trips back to the center and help where he can.
The center will benefit from numerous in-kind donations and by labor and materials from members of the Northeast Florida Builders Association. One member, Greg Matovina of Matovina and Company, has been especially dedicated to the project.
“The story behind this is very compelling,” said Matovina. “To think what these young people 18 and 19 years old have to go through, it’s just the right thing to do.”
Matovina recently spearheaded the Trinity Rescue Mission’s new Women and Children’s Center. But when that was done he said it was time to move on to a new project.
Hyde and Council President Daniel Davis, Council member Don Redman and former Council member Gwen Yates were in attendance during the groundbreaking.
“Our goal is to impact these youths’ lives,” said Hyde. “And this (Touchstone Village) will help do that.”
photo by David Chapman