August 8, 2011
Photo: AZPM
Andrea Beltran-Del Rio (left), a client of Our Family Services in Tucson, tells of the aid she received, with the agency's Laurie Mazerbo.
The homeless population in Tucson is much more than meets the eye. Hidden among the poor and destitute who are most visible is a big number of teenagers.
Our Family Services provides a wide array of services for Tucson's homeless youth.
"We have everything from housing to case management to counseling, life skills, parenting ... street outreach," says Laurie Mazerbo, manager of Homeless Youth Services at Our Family Services. "We also have a shelter for young folks ages 12 to their 18th birthday."
The organization, which sees more homeless youth in the winter because of Arizona's climate, provides services to 1,000 homeless youth every three months.
Andrea Beltran-Del Rio, a client of Our Family Services, says that the program helped her and her new husband find a place to live and also has helped in their job search and obtaining health care.
"There's nothing that Our Family Services hasn't done for us. We're very grateful," Beltran-Del Rio says.
By providing a 24-hour hotline, Mazerbo says the organization hopes to provide instant help to those in need.
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