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Teen Centers Assist Students Experiencing Homelessness
To help fund Teen Centers for Davis County students experiencing homelessness, scan this QR code.
More than 1,300 children in the Davis School District classify as experiencing homelessness. These children live in a variety of unstable housing, which can include sleeping in cars, abandoned buildings or storage units; some couchsurf every night.
A portion of these students are on their own, with school acting as the only place they can obtain food and safety from the elements. They do not have a place to shower, wash their clothes or attend to basic hygiene needs.
Data shows students experiencing homelessness have double the absenteeism rate of students with a stable home, and their graduation rate is 20% lower than the district average.
To help these students meet their basic needs, leading to a more successful educational experience, the Davis Education Foundation has created teen resource centers in Clearfield, Northridge, Layton, Mountain and Woods Cross high schools as well as Renaissance Academy.
These teen centers provide at-risk students with a safe place to shower, launder clothing, eat, do homework and access basic essentials, including food.
Each center is staffed with a Licensed Family Service Worker who works oneon-one with students to ensure they receive any other help they may need.
“Many people don’t realize how many children there are in Davis County whose very basic needs aren’t being met,” said Jodi Lunt, executive director of the Davis Education Foundation. “It’s hard for these students to want to come to school if they don’t have clean clothes, if they are hungry or if they don’t feel clean. We want to help remove those types of barriers so that our students have the greatest chance to succeed.”
The teen centers are open to any student who may be in crisis. This includes students experiencing homelessness and students who are economically disadvantaged or food insecure. As of the end of October 2022, more than 880 students had utilized the teen centers. On average, each center serves 50 to 60 students per day.
Funding for the teen centers came through support from foundations as well as donations from the community.
The Davis Education Foundation is currently conducting a community campaign to raise money to construct three additional teen centers at Viewmont High School, Syracuse High School and Bountiful High School. A total of $1.1 million is needed to complete these centers.
“We have been humbled by the outpouring of support from the Davis County community and many incredible partners to get these centers built and supplied,” Lunt said. “We ask you to continue that support so that we can continue to help our most vulnerable youth.”
To donate funds toward constructing the teen centers, visit https://dsdgive. net/event/992 or scan the QR code on this page. To donate hygiene or food items to assist Davis students, visit ddaviseducationfoundation.org/get-involved
Those who would like to donate hygiene kits as a service project can contact the foundation at 801-402-4483.
