River Haven Youth Shelter (Aired on July 23 & 24, 2016)

Courteney Heller

Courteney Heller

Courteney Heller tells Jonah Triebwasser and Kathy Kruger about River Haven Shelter, emergency housing and support services for runaway and homeless boys and girls ages 10 through 17 in Dutchess County. The shelter, in one form or another, has existed in Poughkeepsie since 1984, and currently can house12 youth at a time (about 100 a year), two to a room. A vegetable garden not only supplies fresh food for the table but is one of several ways that counselors help these preteens and teens reintegrate with their family—if they have one—and society. They also perform community service and continue to attend school while in the shelter. Each evening Ms. Heller prepares a family meal for the residents, which they consume together as they talk about their days. The shelter is part of Hudson Valley Housing, which has various programs to aid the homeless.

Learn more:
River Haven Shelter
River Haven Youth Services
River Haven Facebook Page
Hudson River Housing

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July 23, 2016 · Posted in Dutchess County, Homelessness, Youth