Heat causes Scranton youth shelter to shut its doors
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — The heat this week caused a local youth shelter to shut its doors, but other factors may have them closed for much longer.
The shelter is looking for a new location with just months to move.
28/22 News Reporter Emily Allegrucci visited the center on Tuesday.
The heat in the NEPA Youth Center on Tuesday was high enough that it caused them to close for the time being.
The biggest challenge they’re facing right now though is finding a new place to call home.
If you thought it was hot outside the NEPA Youth Center in Scranton, it was nearly unbearable inside on Tuesday.
And with their AC busted, closing their doors was the safest option.
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“The temperature inside has gotten pretty warm for us and I don’t want to jeopardize anybody’s health by requiring them or allowing them to be in here when it’s too hot,” said NEPA Youth Shelter Executive Director and Founder Maureen Maher-Gray.
But the shelter’s battle with the heat is at the bottom of their to-do list.
The non-profit recently found out that they will be forced to move locations by the first of September.
“With such little time, your wheels are spinning to reach out to all of your contacts and that’s why I put a message out to the community that I need help,” Maher-Gray explained.
Maher-Gray took to Facebook asking for recommendations that fit the shelter’s requirements and the community’s response was overwhelming.
“After I made the post, the engagements were thousands of people. People who care about us and want to see us stay here in the area,” Maher-Gray added.
The non-profit’s current location is just blocks from Scranton High School, something that’s important for the shelter that hosts an after-school program for high school teenagers.
“Having a space here that’s walkable, they can come in and get food and other necessities that they need. A boy just came in last Friday and did his laundry,” Maher-Gray continued.
Maher-Gray feels confident that with the help of the community, the shelter will find the perfect spot to call home.
“I hope that we will be able to move and stay put for another seven, 17, 37 years so that we’re better able to serve this community,” Maher-Gray stated.
Although the date the shelter needs to move by is September 1, they hope to have the new place up and running by the beginning of the school year.
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