(Photo courtesy of Homeless Youth Connection)

More than 900 homeless teens have reached out to HYC for help.

The state Education Department estimates that there are at least 9,000 homeless high-school students in the Valley. But now, one organization in the West Valley is giving them a chance at a successful future.

The federal government defines a homeless teen as one who doesn’t have a regular place to sleep every night.

Among a host of issues that homeless youth face, they are also forced to confront stereotypes.  

Tarinda Craglow is a case manager at Homeless Youth Connection, an organization that has helped more than 900 of these students in the past six years.

“I think that people often times think of homeless youth, they must have done something awful, they chose this position, they made a choice that got them here and they need to make a new choice to make a different life for themselves,” Craglow said.

Larry Cervarich founded Homeless Youth Connection, also known as HYC, in 2010 to find a way to address the problem.

“There is a tremendous need out there of helping the youth, and our main goal is not just to help them with their daily needs but we want to see that they do end up graduating from high school,” Cervarich said.

HYC reaches out to West Valley high schools to provide homeless teens with the resources they need. From basic hygiene products and clothes, to case managers and other assistance to help them graduate.

“These kids, being in a survival mode that they are, they don’t know how to make that next choice because the only thought in their mind is how to be safe tonight and how to have a warm bread and how to have food in my tummy,” Craglow said.

Balin is a junior in high school who has faced homelessness his entire life. He knows the feeling of being labeled.

"You don't want to walk into a room and say 'I'm the homeless kid.' You're immediately setting yourself apart like you're different somehow, when really you are not," Balin said.

For Balin, life at home was not easy. Because of issues going on with his family, for him, being homeless was better than staying in his house.

"I was having problems at home with my stepdad and alcoholism, stuff like that so I just didn't go home,” Balin explained.

Balin found himself kicked out of school just as his mom was being evicted from her apartment.  

With really nowhere else to turn, and the prospect of being on the street again with Balin, she reached out to HYC for help.

“My mom wanted to make sure that if we were living like that again, I would still have the resources for me to be okay,” Balin said.

His case manager has provided him with support, that he said has changed his life.

“She’s helped me have a normal Christmas and just have the things other students have,” Balin said.

The organization also got him back into the school that had kicked him out his first year.

"Now I'm the news editor for the school newspaper, I'm apprentice of sound in theater and head of commercial,” Balin said.

"I think for the people going through situations similar to mine or worse really is just have faith honestly. And you just got to start directing yourself towards constructive things, not negative things,” Balin said.

“You want to help them because they have struggled to where I don’t think some of the adults in this world could do what these kids are doing,” Cervarich said.

HYC is based in Goodyear and operates a host family program that helps these teens find a home.