By John Warren

Phoenix AZ   (January 15, 2016) The street outreach team was once again looking for homeless youth Friday to tell them about Tumbleweed Youth Development Center and the possibility to move from a life of homelessness and hopelessness to an opportunity where they could thrive and grow.

The street team made a foray into the dry Salt River below the Tempe lake dam. Earlier this week the team noticed camp fires among the trees of the river bottom and thought there could be some youth living and surviving there.

We found several homeless people living in the river and talked to them about others who might frequent the area.  They confirmed that a number of youth do camp here from time to time but right now they were probably in downtown Tempe. We arrived in downtown and once again a significant number of homeless people had taken up residence on the sidewalks.  The street team of Rochelle and Stephanie talked to a couple of youth who had not heard of Tumbleweed and told them about the Tempe Youth Resource Center on University and 5^th avenue just west of downtown.

We told them it is a place where they could get food and a shower.  They also told them that we have counselors at the resource center that could provide the young homeless survivor options for housing.  The Emergency Housing program provides a safe overnight alternative for youth with nowhere to sleep.  The Renovated hotel has 33 beds with full shower and bathroom facilities as well as food and access to case management.  The goal is to stabilize youth and identify reliable housing within 90 days

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The Emergency Housing Program is just the first step of transitioning the homeless youth from a life on the street to a place they can call home.  Tumbleweed has an Independent Living program with two facilities where the young adults can live while they find a job and take advantage of continuing education and life skills programs offered at Tumbleweed.

The street team encountered another large group of youth near Tempe City hall near the Church with the Red door.  Many of the youth there

had heard of Tumbleweed and had taken advantage of some of the services.  Some were already working with counselors but they had not made the decision to leave the freedom of life on the streets to a life with rules and expectations.

Giving up the freedom of living with their street family takes time some tell me.

In time with constant contact from the Tumbleweed street team some will choose the promise of a future where they can grow and thrive.

Others won’t, but regardless the Street Outreach team will continue to deliver the message and offer help to those who need it and want it.

Tempe AZ  (January 13, 2016) The Tumbleweed Street Outreach team goes nightly on the streets looking for homeless youth.  Tonight the team is in Tempe and I tagged along.

Where do you find homeless youth in the Phoenix metropolitan area?  The answer is everywhere and often where you least expect it.  The Tumbleweed Street outreach team is accustomed to looking for homeless youth and sometimes the best way is to ask the homeless.  One of the first persons we talked to was a chronically homeless man pushing a shopping cart with what appeared to be all his worldly possessions.  The street team gave him some snacks and asked him where the youngsters were.   He said over by the Pyramid we would find most of them tonight.

The Pyramid we figured was the upside down Pyramid shaped city hall building. As I parked the car Rochelle and Amy, tonight’s street team took off to look for them.  Within a few minutes they came back with eight people some of whom were young people who needed our help.

The people who are not in our age service group those over 26 years of age we talked to and gave them food but we spent more time talking to the three youngsters  age 20, 23, and 24, about the programs available at Tumbleweed and how we could help them get off the street.

The street team told me that often they talk to the same people again and again and it takes a while for them to trust you enough to take the offer of help.  The street team says people on the street sometimes are unable to break away from the people they have built relationships with in essence the street family is their family and the idea of leaving them is hard.

We also met a homeless transgender woman on Mill last night and the street team talked to her about housing available through our Emergency Housing Center.  The street team contacted the ERC director to see if we had space available and we offered to take the woman to the facility but she declined.  We gave her the information as to where to go and who to call if she changed her mind.

As the night progressed the homeless gathered on the sidewalk in clumps of humanity complete with dogs and stories of the times they have had together.

We left the group and headed for a park along the river searching for a group reportedly with a campfire among the trees in the riverbed.

After an initial foray into the dark river bed searching for a campfire, the team opted to wait until the daylight hours during the early evening to resume the search.

Tonight, the Tumbleweed street team will be out there again, as they are five nights each week.  Meanwhile as I prepare for a safe night at home, I will be thinking of the young people I met and the passion and dedication of the Tumbleweed street team to help the young homeless find their way.

Phoenix AZ   January 11, 2016   In his State of the State speech today, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey suggested expanding a Pima County program aimed at reducing the connection between drug abuse and prison recidivism.

“We applaud the Governor for prioritizing help for addicted people, who are often homeless and young, while easing the burden on a crowded prison system,” aid Tumbleweed Chief Executive Officer Cynthia Schuler. “We look forward to helping achieve solutions and I thank the Governor for his leadership.  Addicted young people belong in programs, not prison.”

Here is what the Governor said today, edited for clarity on the issue of drug addiction and recidivism, with edit points noted.

“Whether it’s unemployment, homelessness, crime, child neglect, or the prison population – all these issues trace back to a common theme: Drug abuse and addiction.

(edit)

Think about this. That same year (2014), 1,248 Arizona newborns came into this world already addicted to drugs. We cannot wait to act.

(edit)

For those suffering from addiction, it’s a different story – and law enforcement can only go so far. 75 percent of heroin addicts started out using prescription drugs. We found in a single month – through a voluntary online database – that hundreds of Arizonans were doctor shopping, and receiving highly­ addictive and dangerous drugs from multiple physicians at the same time.

(edit)

Imagine how many more people we could help with a requirement that doctors use that database. It’s time for us to make that happen. Next, we must find help for those who want it.

(edit)

So I’m bringing together a team of leading substance abuse experts, recovering addicts, and providers to find the best treatments and reduce barriers to care. And, if we’re serious about reducing recidivism – and reversing the growth of our prison population, let’s begin by building on the model already working in Pima County: a community corrections center, providing tough love and on­site drug treatment and counseling. It’s time we bring this to the state’s largest county, where the most people are transitioning back to life in our community. Let’s give them a second chance so they stay clean and never end up back in prison.”

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Phoenix AZ (January 7, 2016)  Washington, DC-based Polaris is a leader in the global fight to eradicate slavery. They have created a useful list of key “tells” of people who are being criminally exploited and abused by sex traffickers.

If you notice these behaviors or signs, you are advised to note as much information as you safely can and notify the police.  Tell them what you have observed and why you think the situation may be associated with human trafficking.

Some of the signs and behaviors to watch for include:

Poor Mental Health or Abnormal Behavior

• The individual is fearful, anxious, depressed, submissive, tense, or nervous/paranoid
• Exhibits unusually fearful or anxious behavior after bringing up law enforcement
• Avoids eye contact

Poor Physical Health

• The individual lacks health care
• Appears malnourished
• Shows signs of physical and/or sexual abuse, physical restraint, confinement, or torture

Lack of Control

• The individual has few or no personal possessions
• Is not in control of his/her own money, no financial records, or bank account
• Is not in control of his/her own identification documents (ID or passport)

Other

• Claims to be just visiting and exhibits an inability to clarify where he/she is staying/address
• Lacks knowledge of whereabouts and/or do not know what city he/she is in
• Has lost a normal sense of time
• Has numerous inconsistencies in his/her story

If you are close enough to the situation to observe working and living conditions, note that someone being trafficked often:

• Is not free come and go as he/she wishes
• Is under 18 and is providing commercial sex acts or has a pimp / manager
• Is unpaid, paid very little, or paid only through tips
• Works excessively long and/or unusual hours
• Is not allowed breaks or suffers under unusual restrictions
• Owes a large debt and is unable to pay it off
• Was recruited through false promises
• High security measures exist in the locations (e.g. opaque or boarded up windows, bars on windows, barbed wire, security cameras, etc.)

• Is not allowed or able to speak for themselves (a third party may insist on being present and/or translating)

By noting when someone exhibits some of these signs or behaviors and contacting the police, you can be sure you are doing your part to help rescue exploited and enslaved people.

Phoenix (January 4, 2016)  Thirty five percent of homeless young adults surveyed in Arizona report being exploited by sex traffickers, up from 25% who answered affirmatively on the same survey done in 2014.  Trafficked youth also report initial sexual exploitation at an average age of just 15 and a high incidence of suicide attempts.

The just-released Youth Experience Survey (YES Report), funded by Tumbleweed Center for Youth Development and administered by the ASU School of Social Work, Office of Sex Trafficking Intervention Research, shows vulnerable homeless youth are coerced into sex to survive and often encounter dangers to health and safety as a result, according to officials.

“These results put the community on notice,” said Tumbleweed Chief Executive Officer Cynthia Schuler. “Sexual exploitation of our vulnerable youth, 60% of whom are born and raised in Arizona, is becoming more widespread.”

“It’s very disturbing that the reported average of first sex trafficking experience is just 15,” she added. “The message during this national Human Trafficking Awareness Month is that it stops now. We need to ramp up the fight to protect already-traumatized youth from these predators.”

Forty-five percent of surveyed homeless young women and 24% of surveyed homeless young men report being coerced into sexual activity. More than a third say they have attempted suicide to escape the sex trafficking business and the trauma associated with homelessness.

Sixty-four percent report using drugs and 32 percent say they are addicted to drugs or alcohol.

The YES Report gathered information from 215 homeless young adults, primarily in Maricopa County, in the summer of 2015. ASU conducted a similar survey in the summer of 2014.

“Traffickers exploit the emotional vulnerabilities of homeless young people, often convincing them they are being cared for,” said Melissa Brockie, Tumbleweed Director of Health Programs. “Survivors become isolated and controlled and often believe they are unable to end the coercion and abuse.”

Experts say finding and building connections to sometimes-forgotten or distant family members shows promise as a way to help youth create a support network to break their dependency on exploiters. Thirty one percent of YES Report responders say they have some connection with their family and 45% say they would like to be more connected.

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Phoenix AZ  (December 14, 2015)  Hundreds of the Valley’s most needy homeless youth will have access to emergency housing in 2016 thanks to a $100,000 donation from The Thunderbirds – Hosts of the Waste Management Phoenix Open Presented by The Ak-Chin Indian Community– to the Tumbleweed Center for Youth Development. The funds will help Tumbleweed operate the Emergency Housing Program (EHP), a 33-bed facility in a renovated motel on East Van Buren Street in Phoenix

“In EHP’s first full year, more than 230 young people living on the streets found a safe place to sleep, showers and laundry facilities, access to food, counseling and job placement at EHP,” said Tumbleweed Chief Executive Officer Cynthia Schuler.  “Thanks to the compassion and generosity of The Thunderbirds and the money raised through the Waste Management Phoenix Open, these youth can be sure this life-changing service will continue to be open to them.”

The EHP assists youth ranging from teenagers to young adults who are often fleeing abusive home situations and do not have a safe place to sleep. EHP provides a safe space for collaborating with youth and young adults in our community who are vulnerable or experiencing homelessness. These safe spaces allow access to caring relationships, resources and programs that offer opportunities for young people to develop their individual potential.

“EHP’s commitment to help the youth in our community is something we’re proud to be a part of,” said Danny Calihan, Thunderbirds Charities President. “Their caring and compassion is something we should all strive for in our personal lives.”The donation will help cover rental costs and food as well as assure that expert on-site staff resources remain available.

About The Thunderbirds/Thunderbirds Charities

Thunderbirds Charities is a non-profit organization formed in 1986 to distribute monies raised through the Waste Management Phoenix Open golf tournament. The Thunderbirds Charities Board consists of 15 board members from varying professional backgrounds. The mission of Thunderbirds Charities is to assist children and families, help people in need and improve the quality of life in our communities. The organization’s giving is directed toward organizations based or with a significant presence in Arizona. The Thunderbirds were founded in 1937 with the mission of promoting the Valley of the Sun through sports. The Thunderbirds consist of 55 “active” members and more than 250 “life” members. For more information on the Thunderbirds or the 2016 Waste Management Phoenix Open, visit www.wmphoenixopen.com. For more information on Thunderbirds Charities, visit www.thunderbirdscharities.org.

Tumbleweed center for youth development celebrated its 40^th birthday this week and invited some of the people who are and have been supporters of the organization for years.  Also there was Shirley Agnos who had an idea with the Phoenix Soroptomists organization in 1972.  She and others began planning and opened he first residential facility at 309 W. Portland in a home that still stands. 

it is very interesting looking at the pictures taken then and now.  From that single location serving 12 to 25 youth Tumbleweed has grown with help from supporters to 13 facilities in Tempe and Phoenix. In the first six months of 1975 we served about 100 youth.   The need to help homeless and needy teens and young adults has grown and we now service more than 15-hundred every six months.

Tumbleweed services include working with youthful sex trafficking survivors; refugee children; programs that help youth achieve GED / High school equivalency; job placement and life skills training. While we celebrate the past 40 years of success at Tumbleweed we also are excited about the future plans.  Plans that include and upgraded Phoenix Youth Resource Center and a new Mobile Outreach vehicle that will bring basic services to youth who are homeless anywhere in the valley.

It is all due to the incredible thoughtfulness and unselfish  donations from Tumbleweed supporters.  Supporters who know that getting help to a youngster in need while they are still young and willing to accept help will ultimately help all of society.    The donors who made the Hazelwood center possible know that getting the homeless youngster off the street long enough to consider another path is the first step to helping them find a future of success.

December 3, 2015  The annual Season For Sharing campaign is underway, and you, your civic or church group, or your company can help Valley non-profits, including Tumbleweed, by donating generously.

According to The Arizona Republic, azcentral.com and 12 News, this year’s Season for Sharing donations will be matched 50 cents on the dollar up to $1 million. The matching funds will be added to the pot before the campaign ends on Jan. 10, officials said.

By the end of November, the 2015 Season for Sharing campaign had raised $541,127 since it began collecting donations on Nov. 15. The goal for this year’s campaign is raising $3 million, slightly more than the $2.63 million donated last year, she said.

Season for Sharing, which is run in partnership with the Gannett Foundation and the Arizona Community Foundation, started in 1993 as a way to raise awareness and dollars for non-profit 501(c)3 agencies that help those that need it most in the Valley. Republic Media has received and handed out more than $57 million in grants over the past 22 years.

All the donations are given to local charities, which are chosen by Republic Media after an application and vetting process. The organization covers any overhead costs, Balthazor said.

EVERY DONATION COUNTS!     Donate here! 

All of us at Tumbleweed hope you will join in the sharing and caring for homeless youth this holiday season.!