Drop-in center to help homeless students

Thursday, Jan. 29, 1998 | 10:29 a.m.

School officials say there are an increasing number of students who come to school during the day, but spend the rest of their time in motel rooms, shelters or cars.

Many of those students often drop out to escape the scrutiny of their peers, advocates for the homeless say.

At Wooster High School, such students soon will have place they can go to clean up and prepare for the day.

A drop-in center, equipped with two private showers and bathrooms and laundry facilities, has been constructed with the help of other students and community volunteers.

About 1 percent to 2 percent of Nevada students are homeless, officials say. In Washoe County, there were 829 homeless children as of December. At Wooster, the number is estimated at 40.

"The older kids get, they feel more and more self conscious about their living situation and their peers get more ruthless about teasing them," said Shaun Griffith, director of the Homeless Youth Education Office.

"Schools remain the most safe and secure place that they have to go during the day."

The idea for the center initially came from other students who commented on their less-fortunate peers, Wooster Principal Serena Robb said. Many wanted to help.

Robb obtained a $4,000 state grant for the project, and 34 tradesmen, builders and businesses donated labor and supplies to complete the $28,500 center.

Students in a construction class completed many of the finishing details.

"It's something to do for our fellow students," said Wes Fullenwider, a sophomore who helped install doors and cabinets.

The center, a 260-square-foot room converted from a former dishwashing area off the cafeteria, is removed from the main activity areas of the school to provide students with privacy, officials said.