January 22, 2008 VT shelter helps homeless teens Play video

(NECN) - Spectrum Youth and Family Services in Burlington, VT is a state social service agency that offers transitional living programs to homeless teens.

Teens who, in greater numbers, are coming through the doors looking for a place to sleep.

Executive Director Mark Redmond believes the driving force is poverty.

More and more parents are stretched to their financial limits and can't adequately take care of their children.

Many of the teens Spectrum serves, have experienced serious trauma and victimization.

Unfortunately, Spectrum's services aren't readily available to everyone.

Last year, 126 people stayed in the shelter but another 61 were turned away.

NECN's Anya Huneke has more.