Mental Health Check-In

KEZI checks in with "Youth Era" on the continuing mental health crisis developing from the Coronavirus pandemic.

Late breaking, affordable housing saint vincent de paul has offered one of their affordable housing sites to temporarily shelter homeless youth.

But so far, lane county is turning the offer down.

Focusing on homeless adults and those with pre- existing health conditions.

"youth era" founder and c-e-o martin rafferty is standing by live to weigh in.

If you didn't know, youth era is a local youth suicide prevention organization.

But first, without taking that offer from saint vinnies... advocates say the only option that homeless youth have is "looking glass station seven".

That's on 7th avenue.

But even there, they can only accommodate eight youth at a time.

Local pastor, adam briddell, says now more than ever these unhoused youth need to be taken into consideration.

(00:00: 21) pastor adam briddell, wee in the midst of a public health crisis and the county has moved heaven and earth to do really good work at the fairgrounds for our adult homeless population, but again the resources for youth are completely absent from their response.

And its potentially really tragic?

Briddell says he hopes lane county reconsiders the offer from saint vinnies.

Let's bring in martin rafferty to the conversation now.

Your organization has direct contact with homeless youth in lane county.

What's your reaction to lane county officials saying no to an emergency homeless youth shelter offered by saint vinnies?

We've been checking in with you weekly since the pandemic started.

As the stay-at- home order continues in oregon...as we continue to social distance... what is your organization seeing?

Martin, you have three tips for people at home right now to help mentall weather this crisis.

The first, you say, is to treat rumors like hazardous materials.

What do you mean by that?

You also suggest we map out a routine.

And your third point is to "connect in and connect out."

What do you mean by those two tips?

Martin rafferty with "youth era", thank you for joining us again as the coronavirus pandemic continues affecting mental health.

We'll check in with you