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HOLLYWOOD : Expansion Begins at Shelter for Youths

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Covenant House California, a shelter and counseling center for runaway youths, has begun the second phase of a $10-million project to expand and improve its facilities.

Once completed, the new facilities, connected by an outdoor recreation area, will include 96 beds, a health clinic, employment assistance center, administrative offices and counseling center. Previously, a shelter was on Sunset Boulevard, and the administrative offices and health clinic were on Western Avenue.

Covenant House is demolishing the Western Avenue building for the two buildings, which will house all its operations. The first phase of the project, a building housing emergency beds, a food service area and program space, was recently completed. The second building, which will be a shelter, is expected to be completed within a year.

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Covenant House officials said the expansion would help accommodate the runaway youths using its services; last year, the number increased by 25%.

The increase, said executive director Fred Ali, is due to young people who have left the foster care system without jobs or skills necessary to survive on their own. In addition, many people age 18 to 20 have fallen through the cracks: They are either too old or too young to receive help at most shelters.

But mainly, many runaway youths still believe their voyage to Hollywood will result in stardom.

“Unfortunately, Hollywood continues to be a Mecca for kids,” Ali said, adding that about 40% of the kids who use Covenant House services are not from California.

The majority of the expansion funds have come from private sources, although $1 million is expected to come from the federal government.

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