Burlington has new housing for teenagers and young adults facing homelessness. Spectrum Youth and Family Services is opening a new eight-unit residence this week near its Pearl Street drop-in center and shelter. The new facility will complement a nine-unit residence on Maple Street.
The executive director of Spectrum, Mark Redmond, said he’s seen an increase in the city’s young-adult homeless population since the economic downturn in 2008, and that Spectrum can offer at-risk youth more than just a place to stay.
"They will get all kinds of supports, finding employment, saving money, going back to school, learning independent living skills, and then they get a Section 8 voucher to take out into the real world," Redmond said. "So it’s really a successful model, and we want to reproduce it."
Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger will be on hand for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday.