32 A Safe Haven in Jerusalem for English Speaking Youth in Distress Crossroads Jerusalem (“Crossroads”) is the sole intervention program in Jerusalem that focuses on at-risk English-speaking teens. The teens are often homeless, struggling with addictions and have been the unfortunate recipients of physical, sexual and emotional abuse. In many cases they are estranged from their parents and/or come from broken homes. These teens are exposed to high-risk behaviors, violence and further abuse on the streets. Crossroads’ skilled social workers go out into the streets at night to find teens in need and bring them to the safety of the Crossroads Drop-in Center. Through crisis intervention, individual therapy, group therapy, educational assistance and intervention, Crossroads provides the teens with hope, and direction to help them lead healthier and more productive lives. In 2016, Crossroads “met” 1,139 new teens on “the street” and had 4,023 visits to its Center and currently have 162 teens in weekly therapy where they learn about themselves, to deal with their problems, develop trust, and “chill out.” As Crossroads has grown HOT has made grants to purchase the equipment to establish (i) a much needed “hotline” for troubled teens late at night when loneliness and desperation peak, (ii) a therapeutic music room, (iii) a computer room, and (iv) a teen game room. We have also funded (v) an additional full-time social worker, and (vi) a part-time social worker to establish a Midnight Café (9-11 PM on Thursday nights), (vii) financed the expansion of an innovative Intern to Learn program for kids on the verge of dropping out of school. The internship serves as the transition to either full employment or back to school, and (vii) last year we financed a Pilot Program to help teens in need find Crossroads through the Internet. Imagine the troubled teen going to his/her regular sites and contacting a helping hand rather than a predator. Crossroads has continued to grow and while often hard to do, they have continued to do this with fiscal discipline. This year we are asking our donors to consider designating: • $424 for 4 flat screens @ $106 per screen for existing computers • $1,576 for 2 iPads @ $788 each • $9,253 for a program to help teen girls establish boundary limits and have the self- defense skills for when someone tries to cross those boundaries. • $9,277 for a music program • $10,569 for a GED course and Test Registration for 30 teens @ $352.30 per teen.