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Junior League of Jackson County gives $20,000 to create shelter for teen moms By KELLY STEWART Homeless teenage mothers and pregnant teens will be gaining a home in the Rogue Valley within a year. Rogue Valley Community Development Corporation received a $20,000 grant from the Junior League of Jackson County to build a residence for pregnant teens and teen mothers. RVCDC began planning the facility last fall and already owns a potential site for it at 11th and Grape streets in Medford. The two-story facility will be the first transitional residence for homeless, pregnant teenagers in Jackson County, and will provide housing for eight young women. RVCDC Executive Director Robert Scholl said the idea for the home arose in discussions with community members and facilitators for the teen parent program at South Medford High School. "There are homeless pregnant teenagers in this town and homeless teen moms," Scholl said. "It seems quite shocking to me that that is the case." The residence will be staffed by a 24-hour house manager. Teens who want to live in the house will be chosen on a first-come, first-served basis, based on recommendations by local agencies. Others will be placed on a waiting list. Residents will pay rent geared to their low-income needs. Some house rules, such as attending school or working, will be in place, Scholl said. Residents should be able to move out into the community within two years; living in the home will allow teens to obtain an education or jobs so they can succeed on their own. "We hope that it will serve the need in the community and serve as a model for other communities," Scholl said. RVCDC plans to begin construction in September and complete the facility by June 2000. The RVCDC residence will be modeled after a Salem program called New Options. Up to 16 teens can stay in New Options' rooms for two years, said Robin Winkle, housing development director for New Options' parent organization, Shangri-la. The average duration of a teenager's stay at New Options is 8.5 months. Teens staying at New Options must be involved in school, a general education diploma program, counseling or job training to qualify for housing, Winkle said. Rent costs $250 per month. Josephine County also has a home similar to the one RVCDC wants to create. Hannah's Home, a house for unwed mothers of all ages, was created in 1991. Five women live at the family-style residence, observe curfew and help clean around the house, said house parent Cindra McCallum. The women attend school, work or volunteer in the community. A woman can live at Hannah's Home for six weeks after her child is delivered. Junior League and RVCDC members hope their program will be as successful as others in the state. "Junior League has had an interest in creating this much-needed facility for several years. We are pleased that it is moving forward," said Julie Martinez, Junior League representative. "RVCDC's interest and experience in creating affordable housing gave us confidence in their ability to complete this project." RVCDC has built several units of affordable housing in Ashland, and more recently has rehabilitated a number of homes in West Medford for sale to low-income families and individuals. The West Medford rehabilitation projects were completed in partnership with South Medford High School's Foundations program, and with Community Development Block Grant funds from the city of Medford. "While the teen parent home is a departure from our single-family projects, it is a logical extension of our efforts to provide affordable housing in Jackson County," Scholl said. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA