A Place for Teens to Feel Safe – and to Learn

What happens to kids when life at home is unbearable because of alcoholism, drugs, physical abuse or neglect, or even homelessness? Or when kids go sideways from the structured environment of a high school campus? Fortunately for teens in our community, there’s an answer to these problems – the Inn Between.

Started more than 27 years ago by Executive Director Brian Burgess, the Inn Between has evolved, expanded and contracted during that time span. Currently, the agency serves about 150 youth in its two principal programs: the Inn Sight Alternative High School and the L.I.F.T. social services project for homeless youth, offering donated essentials such as sleeping bags, clothing, food, sanitary items and school supplies to kids living on the streets.

Operating out of shared space owned by Avista Utilities on SE “J” Street, the Inn Sight Alternative High School offers a fully accredited secondary school education leading to a diploma or GED with two teachers on staff, Shannon Stearns and Brant Hanes. The day I visited, a guest speaker was telling the class about Native American culture. The kids all looked serious and engaged, reflecting the high success rate. Last year, 9 students received diplomas and another 9 got their GED’s. This year there are 13 kids on track to graduate. Under a formal agreement with Inn Sight, diplomas are issued by each of the two public school districts, Three Rivers or Grants Pass, depending on the student’s last place of legal residence.

L.I.F.T., which stands for Life through Independence, Family & Trust, is a more recently added program staffed by Anna Bernstein, who is also pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Human Services at Southern Oregon University. Anna’s job is outreach: every Thursday afternoon, she drives over to the Growers Market parking lot with a vanload of sleeping bags, blankets, personal supplies and a couple of boxes of hot pizza. Kids flock around the van to pick up the donated items and eat the pizza, affording Bernstein the opportunity to hear about their most pressing concerns and do a little social counseling. She’ll also give referrals, connecting kids with all the helpful resources she can muster from health care to legal issues.

In its earlier incarnations, the agency has had as many as 50 employees operating in three counties, with programs that included a Juvenile Shelter Facility, education, job training, group homes and teen parent programs, annually serving as many as 1300 at-risk youth. Many of these programs were spun off to county government or other agencies took over the functions. Now, Inn Between is focused just on the core educational and homeless outreach programs.
Jackie Cruz, a board member for 12 years and currently its president, extols the virtues of alternative education. “These aren’t kids with learning problems, they’re kids with social problems or issues with discipline or structure in regular high school. The Inn Between provides a safe, nurturing place for teens to hang out, finish school, and address many of their personal needs at the same time.”

The biggest challenge facing the agency today is its possible upcoming eviction from its building. Avista Utilities, the building owner, has announced plans to sell the building and has asked the agency to vacate so that it can be shown and sold as unoccupied space. Burgess and his board would like to buy the building, which is perfectly suited and well located for their purposes, and asked the company for some time to gather funds for the purchase. The agency has applied for a number of grants from area foundations. They just learned that the main request, to Meyer Memorial Trust, was turned down and now they’re scrambling.

Private donations are gladly accepted. To make a pledge, contact Anna Bernstein at 218- 4594, or mail a check to 618 SE “J” Street, Grants Pass 97526.