AUBURN, Maine — In response to a growing population of unhoused youth, the City of Auburn is welcoming the resources of a local non-profit.
Housing Resources for Youth (HRY) has been working in the Brunswick area for the past few years, offering resources for teens struggling with housing.
Expanding now into Auburn, the group looks for families willing to host teens they're working with to either stay for a short or long-term stay.
"Last year we placed 23 teens in the Bath, Brunswick, Topsham area," Executive Director Pam Gormley said. "These teens did nothing to deserve to be homeless."
There are currently close to seventy unhoused teenagers documented by the Auburn school system.
When a teenager is paired with a host family, essentials like school supplies and bedroom furniture are bought for each teen by HRY; now made possible in part through Auburn's HOME-American Rescue Plan funding.
"So we expect our teens and our host homes to make a family, it's not just providing a bed," Gormley said.
Families go through extensive interviews, background checks, and personality matches to ensure a good fit.
Marshall Shepherd is one of the handful of host families and has housed three teens over the past few years.
"When he joined us, he said he wasn't interested in college, which was fine by us and we were gonna help him get a job," Shepherd recalled about his current teen.
But instead, Shepherd was able to help his teen grow; to focus on goals rather than just finding a place to sleep.
"We watched him graduate, he just got his license so he's so excited," Shepherd added.
Those interested in becoming a host family can contact Program Director Antwane Mills at amills@hrymaine.org.