SYRACUSE—Syracuse High School is the largest school in the Davis District. It also has the highest number of students who are experiencing housing insecurity and the most recent high school to open a teen center to provide those kids with what they need to be successful. The Atlas Center officially became operational after a ribbon cutting last week at the school. 

“About two years ago the idea for teen centers started,” said Syracuse Principal Jed Johansen. “We talked about a way to help students who were homeless. Clearfield was the first one and then they started to come into other areas.”

Johansen said they were surprised to find out Syracuse has more students classified as homeless than other schools. “When we got the data we could see the need for a teen center so it seemed like the right thing to do.”

The students started fundraising and the community and corporations helped get what was needed in place, he said. “We started construction about a year ago and now we're up and running and fully operational.” 

Kids raised money during the Walk of the Titans in the fall, said Johansen. “We got $18,000. We also did a Christmas fundraiser and West Point Junior High held a fundraiser and gave us $10,000. We also had some community and local business sponsors. In all we raised $50,000 to open the center to serve students.”

“I meet with at least five new kids a week who are experiencing housing insecurity,” said Jenny Hadley, Syracuse High School Atlas Center Coordinator. “This has made a huge impact on students. It gives them a place at school with their own space where they can get their basic needs.”

It’s been fully open since January but the ribbon cutting was last week, she said. “There are two big bathrooms and showers and three sets of washers and dryers. We have generic sizes of men’s and women’s clothes, coats, hats, socks, underwear and all sorts of toiletries.”

It’s hard to see so much need, said Hadley. “Kids are not used to being so vulnerable. It takes two to three meetings for them to tell me what they need.”

Others need help right then, she said. “They might be working to make the house payment or for food. I get them help as fast as I can, maybe with a gift card for basic needs at Walmart. It’s concerning to me to know that they’ve been living that way for a long time.”

Some students shower or start laundry ahead of class, Hadley said. “Mostly on Wednesdays because that’s late start, kids are coming in for breakfast as a buffer before school. If the family needs food we’ll be there for them.”

Hadley has had her own experience with food insecurity. “When I was in high school going through the lunch line I had a red card and everyone else had blue,” she said. “I tried to hide it or flip it over but sometimes the lunch lady would turn it over and hold it up to look at it. It was kind of embarrassing.”

There’s no stigma here, said Hadley. “We support all kids in the school. Some might have suffered a death or something and need a quiet study room to be in or they might have high anxiety and they’ll come in and chill then go back to class. We want students to feel comfortable being here.”

Some students have a higher need, said Johansen. “We build that into their schedule with counseling, etc. Every case is so different. We make a plan to help the student be successful.”

The other kids are supportive, he said. “Kids want to help other kids and they’re pretty happy to do it.”

Even though this center is up and running the problems don’t go away, Johansen said. “We rely on the community to help us. We need to keep it on our radar to make sure food gets replenished.”

It’s an ongoing project, he said. “I believe if we help kids in need we’re going to be in a better place for it.”

The district plans to have teen centers in all 10 of their high schools with construction starting later this month at Farmington and Davis High Schools.

For more information on how to help contact Hadley at [email protected].