WACO, Texas — From 2016 when The Cove - Waco was founded, the number of youths and young adults experiencing some level of homelessness the organization has been able to serve has reached a record number of 184; up from 61 when they began.
"We're furthering our field in the heart of Texas," said Cove Executive Director Timothy Packer.
In the current school year, Packer said about half of the youths and young adults they are currently serving are new to the organization. According to Packer, the ages range from 14 to 18, and occasionally up to 19.
But the goal, he added, remains the same.
"We want to make sure that they can reach that graduation point and make sure they can have a positive next step to something else," Packer said.
The 'next step' Packer said requires a combination of hope, education and assistance in seeking employment. A task that is made more difficult, Packer said, considering homeless teens graduate high school at a level 20 percent lower than their housed peers.
“Our starting point at the cove is to make sure that they’re enrolled in their school, that’s where they’re going to get the widest access to support is in school," Packer said. "There’s obviously legal duties around that as well but also we believe that that’s best for them.”
The 501(c)(3) organization focuses on things like after school essentials, assistance in enrolling or re-enrolling into school as well as providing food, hygiene and housing if necessary. Working alongside other local organizations to pool resources when necessary.
"We're also a drop in service," Packer said. "Youth can just show up at the door from 9 am to 5 pm or Monday through Thursday until 9 pm and that's an opportunity for us to connect with those youths who are struggling to get to school or disconnected altogether."
The program also works with local district campuses to get student ID's for their homeless clientele and help them make up for lost time at their headquarters. With access to learning materials and computers through their attendance recovery program, which Packer said can allow the students to regain days of school they may have missed.
"That can really help them reach that goal of graduating high school," Packer said.
With the help of tutors and family advocate counselors Packer said the organization is doing everything they can to help strengthen the children's ties with their education and improving familial relationships best they can.
"This isn't an easy job," Packer said. "Some of the situations we come across are challenging and personally and emotionally draining but seeing the positives in the youth and building those relationships is incredibly rewarding as well."
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