Closing

Well, I can finally tell everyone what has been happening with me at work. Youth House is closing, after 32 years of providing services to children. I don’t want to sound bitter or complaining, so the bottom line is money. We can’t make enough money to manage all the mandates that are required and pay salaries as well. The reason we can’t make enough money is that the State is not keeping beds filled. We have been running at 50% capacity for the last few months. My boss kept holding on, thinking that any day, they would place more children. In the last few years, Louisiana has under gone “juvenile justice reform”. Not a bad thing actually, but it has resulted in most of the smaller operations having to close. We just lasted longer than most. There were options available, but my boss and the Board of Directors decided they weren’t worth pursing; that it would just be putting off the inevitable. I tend to agree. So please say a prayer that I will be able to find suitable employment in the near future. Our last day of operation is slated to be August 20th. But if we get everything done by then, it will be amazing. Anyway, one of the reasons I haven’t posted often, is that when I get home from work, I just haven’t felt like it. I will keep you posted on how things are going. When the girls at Youth House #1 were told that we would be closing, they all (except one) began crying. One child even asked if her uncle bought the house, could we still stay open. I think that is what bothers me the most, this has been a wonderful program that has helped numerous children. What a shame it will be lost. Well, please keep me, the children, and the staff of Youth House in your prayers. Thanks.