Working with homeless youths in the Lewiston-Auburn area through two outreach programs, Dan Sansoucy sees more than most residents are even aware of. Organizations like Volunteers of America, Hope Haven Gospel Mission, New Beginnings shelter, St. Martin de Porres and Catholic Charities are helping homeless young people whenever possible, and Sansoucy believes that the more youths who can be helped to turn their lives around, the better the impact on the community.

“If we can work with these kids at 14, 15, 16 and 17 years old that are out on the streets, then maybe we won’t be seeing as many 28- and 29-year-olds in the shelters and out on the streets,” said Sansoucy, who has worked with at-risk young people for 15 years.

Title: Program manager for Volunteers of America’s youth transitional living and homeless intervention programs

When did you decide this was the career you wanted? Although I was considered a jock in high school, I liked to have fun and was mischievous. I was well acquainted with street life and saw a lot of people struggle. I think college really humbled me, being in a school (St. Michael’s) in Burlington,Vt., that was more affluent than a mill town such as Lewiston, it really opened my eyes. I did some work with Big Brothers and Big Sisters in college from 1989 to ’91, doing some mentoring and working with at-risk youth. I realized that there were a lot of these kids out on the streets, and I wanted to find some way to work with homeless youth.

Where do you see the program in a year? With the homeless intervention program, I hope that we are able to maintain at least two outreach workers, because the needs are very high. We have probably worked with 30 to 40 youths just at Lewiston High School this year. For our transitional living program, (I hope) that it is maintained (and) still fully staffed … as well as (I would like to) enhance our recreational activities, continue to provide living skills and reach out into the community. Maybe post-secondary education for those youth; I’d like to see a real increase in knowledge. My big hope, what I’d like to see, is a lot more community involvement.

Do you have a favorite holiday tradition? I love Christmas, and I would have to say watching my daughter, Sophia Mae, 3 years old, open presents.

One thing you are looking forward to doing soon: Taking my daughter to see Hannah Montana, although I’m an avid Phish fan and would like to introduce her to their music.

What is an interesting fact about you? I’ve seen over 150 Phish shows. I’ve seen someone give birth (at the shows), I’ve seen people get married, but I’ve never seen a fight and never seen an overdose. I think there is a sort of negative connotation that is associated with the culture, but at the same time the musicians are very talented and have been around for 25 years and they are just looking to please their fans.

Favorite pastime? Spending time with my family and friends, the Red Sox and following Phish.

What would you want the public to know about youth homelessness? The need is so much more vast than the available services can meet. There are a number of agencies in the area that are trying to work on the issue, and the homeless youth population is a very diverse population. When people think of homeless they think of sleeping under a bridge or in a shelter, which are both homeless situations. But at the same time I think that people who are experiencing homelessness don’t want to be identified as a homeless person. There are a lot of youth today that come from broken homes, and people need to realize that is not always the youth’s fault. They try to get their needs met by staying with non-legal guardians like aunts, uncles or grandparents, staying with friends, in hotels, there are kids living out of their cars, and latch-key kids that leave home for one reason or another.

For more information on youth and other programs, visit Volunteers of America Northern New England at www.voanne.com.

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