Rotary: POCOMO
Posted by Linda Balzer
on Jul 23, 2012
.....There are an estimated 500 kids out on the streets of the Tri-Cities on an average weekend night
Last week we were fortunate to have Jerome Bouvier the director of POCOMO, the Tri-Cities Youth Service Society, who operate the Project Reach Out program with two buses which travel through out the Tri-Cities every Friday and Sat. Night from 7:00 to midnight. They provide a safe center where street kids can go and receive support and information on services available to them, such as sex and drug education and counseling on handling the life many of them find themselves in.
There are an estimated 500 kids out on the streets of the Tri-Cities on an average weekend night and the numbers are increasing. The average of the kids they encounter and support was 13years old down from 15 years on average just a few years ago. Each bus sees an average of 40+ kids per night and on some night as many as 150 kids in total between the two buses.
POCOMO has operated Since 1992 and due to government cut backs they are facing a very real possibility of closing their doors in the next few months due to lack of funds. This would be a tragedy!
Their bus is often the first point of contact for many kids struggling with drug abuse,exploitation, isolation and other issues that can place them at risk. The Project Out Reach provides a safe place where they have someone who will listen to them without judging them and hopefully, who will be able to guide them to help before they find themselves in crisis and hopefully reduce the harm to themselves and others.
Jerome give several examples of success stories as well as some stories of the horrors some of the kids face every day. As one of the kids said "I just needed someone to listen "
There are an estimated 500 kids out on the streets of the Tri-Cities on an average weekend night and the numbers are increasing. The average of the kids they encounter and support was 13years old down from 15 years on average just a few years ago. Each bus sees an average of 40+ kids per night and on some night as many as 150 kids in total between the two buses.
POCOMO has operated Since 1992 and due to government cut backs they are facing a very real possibility of closing their doors in the next few months due to lack of funds. This would be a tragedy!
Their bus is often the first point of contact for many kids struggling with drug abuse,exploitation, isolation and other issues that can place them at risk. The Project Out Reach provides a safe place where they have someone who will listen to them without judging them and hopefully, who will be able to guide them to help before they find themselves in crisis and hopefully reduce the harm to themselves and others.
Jerome give several examples of success stories as well as some stories of the horrors some of the kids face every day. As one of the kids said "I just needed someone to listen "