Tumbleweed Center program helps homeless youth learn business skills

PHOENIX — A program which takes aim at helping teens beat homelessness is getting bigger and better.

TumbleTees, a social enterprise program offered by the Tumbleweed Center for Homeless Youth, held a grand opening of the new downtown location Thursday evening.

It’s a screen print operation for businesses and non-profits, where homeless or at-risk teens will learn life skills through an internship.

“It’s one of the best programs, I’ve ever been a part of,” said Douglas Criswell.

Criswell has taken advantage of the services offered by the Tumbleweed Center for Homeless Youth and is no longer homeless. In fact, he serves as a mentor for other teens who are caught in the same predicament he was once in.

“I have an apartment, a nice check, a car, I am in school and I have my own bank account. That’s a huge deal for me,” said Criswell.