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Teen
Canteen
The Teen Canteen Thanksgiving Lunch
for homeless youth in Hollywood was made possible by a generous
grant from Paul Dinletir.
 Above,
Teen
Canteen Case Manager Ben Lieberman making the fruit platter.
Teen Canteen clients lining up for lunch.
 Top:
Clients pitch in to help keep the property clean. Middle and
bottom: Before & after cleanup at Hollywood Blvd. &
Gower Street.
The clients at Teen
Canteen receive a periodic visit from the California Chafee
ETV Bus [www.communityconnect.org]
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The first
drop-in center of its kind in Hollywood, Teen Canteen assists homeless
and runaway youth. Since 1983, while here, youth are treated as
unique, valuable individuals who deserve advocacy, education,
and guidance to promote self-sufficiency.
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What is
Teen Canteen?
* A first
step off the streets
* A safe haven
* A drop-in center for homeless and runaway youth
* A caring and supportive environment
* A chance to become self-sufficient
* A way home
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Programs
Family reunification
is the primary goal, as long as it is in the best interest of the
youth in question. We offer a transportation assistance program
that helps for a link to a support system at home.
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Services
Available
* Professional
Counseling
* Case Management
* Crisis Intervention
* Food
* Showers
* Laundry
* Clothing
* Shelter Referrals
 
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*
Job Assistance
* Transportation
* Hygiene, Toiletries
* Medical checkups
* Legal Clinic
* Lockers
* Calls Home
* HIV Testing
* Substance Abuse Counseling & Referrals
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Watch
a
Quick Time Video
about
Teen Canteen
The
QuickTime digital video of Teen Canteen was made possible
with
the kind support of Genex, Inc., of Culver City, California
File
size is 3.9 MB. Loading time may vary from 30 seconds to ten minutes
depending on the speed of your connection.
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How We
Fit In . . . Teen Canteen works closely with:
* AIDS Project Los Angeles
* Angel's Flight
* California Child, Youth, and
Family Coalition
* Children's Hospital Los Angeles
* Covenant House California
* Hollywood Social Services Consortium
* L.A. Free Clinic
* L.A.
Youth Network
* L.A. Gay & Lesbian
Community Services Center
* My Friend's Place
* Options House
* Runaway & Homeless Youth Network
* Runaway Adolescent project (DCFS)
* The Way In (Salvation Army)
* Western States Youth Services Network
* Youth Crisis Line
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My
Story
by
Chris aka "Thug"
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| "Since
I've been in Hollywood, I've been coming to Teen Canteen almost
every day. They provide many things for kids who live on the
streets. |
"I
got hooked up with a cool case manager and soon after that
I started looking for work."
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| They
let us take showers, they feed us breakfast and lunch, they
talk to us about everyday issues, they provide bus tokens for
job searching and when you find a job they provide bus tokens
until you can afford to buy a monthly bus pass. I've
been in Hollywood for about 15 months. When I first got here
I soon learned about Teen Canteen from all the street kids going
there to eat lunch. Well, I found out that giving out food to
homeless kids wasn't all they did. I got hooked up with a cool
case manager and soon after that I started looking for work.
I worked for a few places but they were just temporary. Now,
I've found a job that I think I'll stay with for a while, and
by next week hopefully me and my girlfriend will be getting
an apartment and getting our goals and our futures started." |
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Sam's Story
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Sam
saw a counselor on
a regular basis, got off drugs, and saved his money. |
A
former child of the foster care system, Sam spent a considerable
portion of his youth in and out of group homes. He came to Teen
Canteen in August 1997, requesting food, clothing, and shelter
referrals. |
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staff saw the promise in Sam and encouraged him to seek help
for a substance abuse problem. Sam saw a counselor on a regular
basis, got off drugs, and saved his money. Teen Canteen supported
Sam's efforts and helped him find a job at the Hard Rock Café,
where eventually he was awarded with a promotion and received
the employee of the month award. Teen Canteen also located Sam
an affordable apartment. He eventually moved to Alaska and is
now a crew member aboard a fishing boat. Sam is a success story
& he wanted to talk about the help he'd received from Teen
Canteen's case management staff. |
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Debbie's Story
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| "I
was 15 years old when I left home to escape an abusive stepfather.
I joined a gang in the neighborhood and developed a fighter's
reputation. I stayed at a few Hollywood shelters, but didn't
seek counseling and soon got bounced out of the shelters. I
was living on the streets. I was homeless! I got involved with
prostitution, which left me beaten up by pimps and other sexual
molesters. I really needed a safe place, so I went to Teen Canteen.
They gave me a meal and got me off the streets. I used their
shower and laundry facilities." |
"I
really needed a safe place, so I went to Teen Canteen."
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At
Teen Canteen, Debbie made use of the available services and
grew to trust the staff. She was given an HIV test on-site and
was counseled on HIV/AIDS by a Peer Educator. |
"I
told the case manager that I'd been raped. I really felt hopeless.
She counseled me and got me into another shelter. Then I realized
that I was pregnant and the Teen Canteen case manager helped
me to make phone calls to maternity and prenatal programs."
Teen Canteen staff introduced Debbie to a Public Health Nurse
specializing in prenatal care. The Nurse helped her to sort
through the bureaucratic maze of applying for maternity benefits.
With Teen Canteen's support, Debbie contacted her godmother
in Pasadena and discussed a possible living arrangement.
"I moved in with my godmother and gave birth to a healthy baby
boy. Teen Canteen was there for me." |
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