Expanded Center For Homeless Youth Opens In St. Paul

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- St. Paul's homeless youth have a new place to get the help needed to get back on their feet.

On Wednesday, the nonprofit Face to Face opened the doors to a much larger daytime center called SafeZone.

"It's a breath of fresh air," said Dex Hopkins, a client.

Hopkins, 22, is one of thousands of youth getting help at SafeZone. The daytime-only drop in center is aimed at helping at risk youth ages 11 to 24 gain self-sufficiency.

"Even if you're not in the right mindset, just seeing people who are, you get inspired by that," he said.

Inspiring and helping the homeless back to self-sufficiency is the whole idea of SafeZone.

With a snip of the ribbon, the expanded center opened in style. The new building was made possible through a public and private partnership that relies heavily on donations.

"So, a lot of furnishings were donated for this, so we are feeling a bit fancy," executive director Lynda Bennett said.

Bennett says they now have 40 percent more space for badly needed counseling and health services. The nurse practitioner on staff, Judy Rognli, can also offer medical tests and other basic health services.

"I give out a lot of band aids, soak a lot of feet and give kids shoes and socks," she said.

There's also more space to socialize and look for work.

"We have a computer lab where young people can access social media accounts, do job searches, a housing search and homework if necessary," Bennett said.

There are even new shower facilities, pantries and laundry facilities providing clients with the basic dignities of everyday life.

"The youth on the margins are the first to see a downturn and the last to see an upturn," Bennett said.

Thanks to the help of SafeZone, Sierra Assefa is working to become a nurse, trading life on the streets for a career caring for the hurt.

"When you feel you can't turn somewhere else, they always have something to offer you," Assefa said.

The center's renovation relies heavily on donations. It's about halfway to its renovation goal of $650,000.

If you'd like to help the effort, go to www.face2face.org.