268.

701.

1,128.

Those three numbers represent the homeless youth count over the last six years here in Sonoma County.  In 2009, the first count registered 268 homeless youth between the ages of 12 and 24 living on the streets of Sonoma County. Two years later it was 701. In 2013 it grew to 1,128.

Fred Ptucha, promoter of Social Advocates for Youth’s affordable housing program, kicked off the Santa Rosa Junior College Board of Trustees meeting Nov. 7 asking for the board’s endorsement of SAY’s Dream Center.

“Why would anyone want to criminalize these kids? Does anyone really think these kids chose to be foster kids?” Ptucha asked.

He began building broad-based community support for the Dream Center from 20 churches, two synagogues, the Bennett Valley Buddhist organization, a number of service clubs and the YMCA.

“SRJC is the most respected institution in our community, so we’re here today to ask for two things. First, a formal endorsement from the Board of Trustees in favor of the Dream Center, and second, because you as individuals, you wouldn’t be on the board if you weren’t highly respected in the community, therefore, if you have personal relationships with any city council member or planning commissioners, and if you could put a call in to put a good word in and encourage support it would be greatly appreciated,” Ptucha said.

Ptucha then introduced Justin Ayres and Chris Hohmann, both residents of Tamayo Village and SRJC students.

Tamayo Village is a 25 bed co-ed facility that provides affordable housing and supportive services to former foster care and homeless youth. Tamayo Village is essentially an eight-year pilot project preparing the community for the Dream Center, a very big idea for these young people that need SAY’s help.

Next up at the podium was SAY Executive Director Matt Martin. Martin mentioned SAY’s longstanding history here in the community, providing housing, counseling and jobs on behalf of children, teenagers and youth since 1971.

“The number of homeless youth is higher than the per capita homeless youth rate that exists in the county of San Francisco,” Martin said. “These are our youth. Additional housing beds are needed here in Sonoma County.”

The waiting list at Tamayo Village averages six months.  “We have the opportunity to accept a gift as Social Advocates for Youth from Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa to repurpose the old Warrick Hospital building which has been vacated since 2008 with empty rooms with empty beds in them, with bathrooms in each room and a commercial kitchen sitting vacant while we have 1128 youth on the streets of Sonoma County,” Martin said.

The Dream Center will offer not only beds but also counseling and training, as Tamayo Village does now.   Some of the residents are SRJC students.

Martin reminded the board that this is not just about these kids or SAY, but about the soul of this community, about what kind of place Santa Rosa is going to be, either a place of compassion where we reach out to each other or NIMBY. This is an important role where SRJC can say what kind of people we really are.