As Phoenix’s downtown economy grows into a true metropolitan epicenter, we in turn deal with the downsides of big cities, like the homeless populations. There are several local organizations working with the community to  overcome this issue. The Tumbleweed Youth Center, near the downtown ASU Campus, had been providing a safe environment for homeless or displaced youth in Phoenix for decades. But when a growing homeless population met an impending foreclosure, the center was forced to look for a new location that would meet their needs on a budget.

The center is almost completely run on federal and state grants, with community donations making ends meet.

Dick Geasland, Tumbleweeds’ Executive Director, says that the center focuses their efforts on “building trust” between teens and young adults and a system that they may feel has failed them. The center offers emergency housing for ages 12-18, as well as basics, like food and showers, for 18-26 year olds.

According to Geasland,  “Our case managers are more like detectives” as their job entails way more that helping kids stay on track. The center works to help youth obtain original identification, birth certificates or state IDs, which is often lost or never created, as well as connect them with health care providers for a healthy future. The Street outreach street works with current youth center tenants as well as the surrounding community to locate local homeless teens and offer aid, such as hygiene bags and non-perishable foods.

Tumbleweeds got in contact with a former landlord who was able to find and renovate a space to meet their needs and their budget. The new center, located on 16th and McDowell, is almost twice the size of their old facility and includes a 2,500 square foot store front.

Need some screen printing done? Look no further. The center’s store front doubles as a screen printing shop as well as hands on business training and employment for center youth. Geasland also hopes to open part of the center as a performance space to introduce the center to art as well as theater and performance management.

Now, I know what your thinking. “A great non-profit helping out Downtown Phoenix?! How can we help?” Clothes, blankets, sleeping bags, and bottled water can be dropped off at the center which is located at 1419 N. 3rd Street, Suite 102 in Phoenix. You can also visit their website for the most currently list of needs as well as to donate funds.