Short-Term Shelter for Youths Sought

A nonprofit group is seeking Ventura County residents who can offer short-term shelter for runaway, homeless and distressed youths.

Camarillo-based Interface Children Family Services provides training and a small financial reimbursement to families who take a child into their homes during evenings and weekends.

The Cool Homes shelter program serves children 10 to 18 who may be homeless or need time away from their parents to resolve family problems.

Although 20 families are currently housing children sent by the organization, there is still a need for more homes, a spokesman said.

“We certainly are inundated with calls from parents and students and counselors and so forth, so obviously there is a need for this,” said Chris Rutter, the group’s director of community resources. “We never have enough.”

The youth’s stay may last from a couple of days to a month but typically ends after two weeks, Rutter said. The group provides transportation for the children.

For more information, call Maureen Miller, the group’s coordinator of volunteer services, at 485-6114.