AUBURN, Maine — High school senior Sam Chamberlain, 18, is making his life experience work for him, and others.
After living in three homeless shelters for the past two years, Chamberlain has become a homeless youth advocate.
Working with the Maine Homeless Youth Providers, last fall the Edward Little High School student asked Gov. Paul LePage to issue a proclamation making November homeless youth awareness month.
Chamberlain wrote the proclamation and submitted it to legislators and the governor’s office. “He took the initiative. He did a nice job,” said Bob Rowe of New Beginnings of Lewiston. LePage, who himself was a homeless teen on the streets of Lewiston, signed it and met with Chamberlain.
This month Chamberlain attended a national conference on homelessness in Los Angeles. His flight and expenses are being paid by the conference, he said.
“I am excited,” he said. He went to learn how other states are handling homeless youth, and use that knowledge to help in Maine.
The staff at his high school is impressed.
“He is an outstanding representative for Edward Little, a good ambassador in anything and everything he does,” Edward Little Assistant Principal Steve Galway said. Not only is Chamberlain a good student, “he’s an outstanding citizen,” Galway said.
Chamberlain said he became homeless in the summer of 2009. He and his family weren’t getting along. Tired of the “yelling and screaming,” he and his parents agreed he would leave, Chamberlain said. He was reluctant to give specifics, but said he was more comfortable in a homeless shelter.
But moving to a shelter at age 16 “was scary,” he said. “All of a sudden I’m sharing a room with someone I don’t know. It was uncomfortable, but I’m grateful for it.”
During his intake evaluation, hearing the noise around him, he was nervous. His unease let up when he was welcomed at his first supper.
At another home, Chamberlain lived with youth who had mental health issues. “It got scary sometimes, but it worked out.”
He’s had to maneuver programs to avoid not having a place to stay.
Today he lives in an apartment for homeless youth, and can stay there through December. By then he’ll be in college. After graduation in June, he plans to attend Southern Maine Community College and become a paramedic.
Chamberlain said he does not have financial support from his family, and qualifies for food stamps and MaineCare. He gets to and from school by rides from Community Concepts.
He works at a movie theater. “I don’t have a vehicle. I’m on my own” for getting to and from work. Sometimes he walks or rides his bike, other times he gets a ride from co-workers.
Most of his needs are met, he said, but being on his own requires some juggling.
It took him a while to tell people he was homeless. “I don’t want this to be something that defines me.” As an advocate, part of his intention is to highlight challenges and promote understanding.
Homeless isn’t just couch surfing, living in a car or motel or park bench. It’s also having no home, he said.
There aren’t enough programs for youths, and some adult shelters won’t accept minors, he said. “There are absolutely youth living under bridges.” He knows of kids who have bought tarps at Goodwill and lived temporarily under the Veterans Memorial bridge.
When someone is homeless and under age 18, “you have such a minimal amount of legal rights. You can’t just walk into a business and say, ‘I want a job.’ A lot of youth don’t have Social Security cards or birth certificates. It’s difficult for them to provide identities, and hard to get a job.”
If there were more family counseling available, that could prevent some kids from becoming homeless, he said.
There are some homeless youth who have given up, Chamberlain said. “Their parents are in and out of rehab, in and out of jail. They’ve never been there for them. They’ve followed in those footsteps.” They don’t believe they’re smart, and don’t go to school, he said.
But there are others who have not given up. “If a homeless youth is attending school, they want to better their life,” he said.
They want to be taken seriously by adults, especially employers.
He goes to school every day, does his work and is a good student. “Education is very important to me,” he said. In the last two years “my grades did not deteriorate.”
“A homeless youth is the same as any other youth. We all just want to be normal, or as close to normal as possible.”
To see more from the Sun Journal visit sunjournal.com
Sounds like a bright young man that overcame a lot of challenges. He serves as an example of what anyone can do, should they put their mind to it.
Yes, with the help of public funds.
Yes the politicians help themselves to public funds everyday. In one way or another.. Goober
I agree. If it was abuse in his home, DHHS, should’ve been called he may have siblings. Familiy counselors are provided by DHHS when family life is so bad a child needs to be on the streets. In this case, parents should’ve been consulting with either DHHS or other counseling services, Youth and family Services, ect. Only when all counseling measures have been exhausted can one turn the child to the street, in my opinion. Once on the street they recieve foodstamps and other government services. Parents must pay child support until child is 18. We have paid and still pay for a minor under the age of 18, that doesn’t live much at his mom’s. We paid child support for one of my step-children that moved out at 16. She has excelled, because she had a firm foundation, before she chose to live with her mother at 14. Some kids move out, but parents need pay their portion of support, then the child can work for the rest. Moving out is a choice, if it isn’t then DHHS, needs t be involved. I myself stuck it out.
Often what happens is the services that are provided by DHHS are exhausted and often cause some turmoil in the household. As the article said, it was a mutual decision, so the blame should be shared equally among all parties. Often what happens is that there is abuse within families, sometimes mutual between parents and youth, and sometimes not. We do not know the specifics of this situation due his wanting to keep some things private (which is noble, and I am sure his parents would prefer) and so it is simply disrespectful and rude to be putting any amount of blame on anyone involved, etc.
Often there is more than what meets the eye. Sometimes youth are the ones being abused, and sometimes they are the ones abusing. It is a very difficult and complicated situation. DHHS is not always the best option and sometimes is not even an option. There are VERY specific guidelines and procedures and it is not as easy as saying “call DHHS.” I am sure that this was the last thing that anyone wanted to do, but luckily he has made the best of it, he has become an inspiration. We don’t know the specifics and it is not our place to criticize his home life.
I am glad he made the best of it. My step daughter moved out of her mothers at 16 and went right straight to work. We still paid our childsupport, and she finished high school. Then proceeded to college. Kids can make it, but when you bring children into the world, plan on paying for 18 plus years.
I want to spit fire when parents tell me, he chose to leave, so its up to the State now. Then the child turns to welfare for support. Why should we pay for your children???? Keep them home or support them. Of course at 16 the police won’t keep returning them to your doorstep, we found that out. Parents are legally responsible for anything they do (as in if they damage someone’s property) until they turn 18 in most cases, unless imancipated.
ABSOLUTELY involvement by DHHS makes EVERYTHING better.
DHHS doesn’t actually DO their job…they can all recite their “job description” verbatim though….Who’s worse ? The kid trying to get a break so he doesn’t NEED support, or the DHHS social workers earning 50k + benefits that do ABSOLUTELY nothing worthwhile for their money ? I’m sure this kid didn’t eat up 50k worth of food this year….DHHS eats up that 50k times 2,000 ?? For doing nothing……There’s your budget gap Mr LePage….
It is the people who are striving and moving toward not needing public funds who are the ones who truly deserve those funds. Sometimes people need a let up. I abhor abuse of public funds, but this case and others like him are the ones a public assistance program was designed for.
would you rather he starve? would rather he were on drugs? would you rather you didn’t know he existed?
Isn’t it sad that you worry about YOUR money, other then seeing how well this young man is doing, with what he’s been given. Sad indeed.
I never said any such things nor did I imply them. It is you who did. I merely pointed out that he was, in fact, using public funds. You could have just as easily agreed with me that he is so lucky that he had those funds available to him. Why did you put a negative slant on my statement?
Everyone gets public funds in one way or another, so it’s kind of stupid to even point it out.
Really? I guess I am the only person who recieves n0 public funds of any kind. Good to know.
Really? Never went to public school? Never drove on a public road? Never been to a State Park?
Lol…beat me to it….redsux87 thinks all those things were put there just for him…he works hard at McDonald’s and feels entitled.
That stuff isn’t free…… Paid for by tax payer money…….
Yeap, all paid for with gas, property, and income tax. My gas tax also pays for the 100,000 pound trucks which do more damage to the road in a month than my little passenger vehicles do in 100 years. I’ve paid property tax for over 40 years, and went to public school for six. Federal public parks are now self supporting (through fees fines, and sales on trinkets and some natural resources,) and have been so since 1982.
I pay for what I get….and wouldn’t have it any other way.
I’d sure like to know where they’re handing out the checks… haven’t gotten my share recently.
because your statement was unnecessary, and because of the statement you replied to.
sorry if, I read to much in to what you want to say
Because it has a negative slant. Shows everyone that people with YOUR attitude are the real problem…not this kid who’s working hard to pull himself up. You are a loser like all those who would support that statement. Maybe you should better yourself instead of trying to bring others down to your low level…..
I would think the state would collect from this child’s parents as they would any other dead beat parent.
This young man needs help to keep from freezing to death or starving. Clearly his own family isn’t doing right by him. Assisting others who might freeze or starve through no fault of their own is precisely the function of public funds. When the need is great, we need solutions not cut backs.
I agree 100%.
He will do well in his life and you will sink even lower than you are today….if that’s even possible.
I am a low life because I believe he should use public funds to improve himself? You’re just a bigot who presumes to know what I think. My post was in no way negative. Your brain, however, if you have one, is incapable of positive thought. You sir, a naught but a bigot.
He should be elected Governor.
He would be a drastic improvement from the present…..
I don’t know what happened to his family, but give this young man high marks for making the best of a bad situation. I cannot imagine not having a home to go to or even a bedroom where I could catch some privacy. Hopefully one of you Mainers can set him up with a warm place to stay and place an extra seat at the dinner table. Just think how he would feel if four or five families once a week could give the young man an invite to dinner and maybe have him relax on the couch watching a movie.
I bought my ex landlords home. Beyond my living area we had three small one bedroom apartments. Until I lost my job with CMP back in the 90’s I was working to make those three small apartments available. My plan was to let local law enforcement know that I had these three apartments and would make them available free of charge, fully stocked, for anyone. The plan I decided on was if a family, or a person, was in town due to having one of their family members hospitalized that the family would have a comfortable, cozy place to stay while their loved one got well. We did get one lady there, but when I lost my job we had to sell the place and move out of state. When I retire in several more years I’d like to do that again. It’s a great feeling to help out and it warms the heart.
Apologies for carrying on. The young man in the story brought back all these memories. Thanks for reading along.
I would LOVE to talk with you Trainguy Jim as I have been researching how to start a non-profit in Auburn that would provide community housing for those in transition due to divorce, particularly single parents who are teachers or other public servants – NOT a shelter for those escaping abuse as that would entail more services and security issues. Some friends and I have talked about housing units (apartments?) where each family could have their private spaces, yet with a community kitchen, shared Internet services, shared childcare services/tutoring for each other, and help when needed for technical issues with computers now a necessity for doing school work or looking for jobs. I have successfully raised five children as a single mother (still 3 at home), and have just completed my bachelor’s degree (with honors). Thankfully, I have an incredible support system in place, but not all are quite so fortunate. It would be great to offer others the support I have been blessed to have.
It is hard to understand why there are so many homeless people let alone teenagers in America! Our Government has no problem giving billions of our hard earned tax dollars to other under developed countries to help there poor! I am ashamed to think we have such hypocrites running this country!!
The Democrats need to keep people poor and homeless. If it were not for poverty the Democrats would have no constituency. With all the money and anti poverty programs out there, why does poverty keep on growing? The Liberals and Democrats would have you believe it was the fault of successful people vs. they themselves who must perpetuate poverty to survive.
My hat is off to this young man for all of the adversity he has had to face it sounds like he will make it. Unfortunately as he has pointed out he is just one out of the number of youth facing this challenge. I would think it would be benefitial to him and the advocates of the homeless for them to employ him. He has a wealth of information and experience they gain from. Undoubtedly he will do well in life.
I read with interest that Mr LePage met with him and signed the proclamation he had drawn up. And on the other hand this young man is one of our citizens Mr LePage wants to kick off of MaineCare and other public assistance first.
Tell me Mr LePage where is your compassion for mankind ? You tout your own experience growing up in a similar circumstance as this young man but seem unwilling to lend a hand up.
You are incorrect. LePage wants to get rid of do nothings who are not doing anything with their lives and are ‘making a living’ on public assistance. He’s not trying to get high school students off. Stop making assertions. You’re lying and blind to the facts.
I think if you check the young man’s MaineCare falls under the childless catagory that Mr LePage is adamant about cutting. If that is the case I am not lying for which you owe me an apology.
Really ? LePage could do a great service to Maine by starting with himself….
Man you were doing good till you started your second paragraph.
Not sure why we’re celebrating the fact that this family wasn’t able to maintain/restore one of the most fundamental relationships. What efforts were made to engage counseling so that staying in a shelter on someone else’s dime wasn’t the most attractive option for him?
It is celebrating the fact that this young man is overcoming his obstacles and becoming a valuable member of society despite the lack of support he had growing up. I imagine it was never his choice as to whether he and his parents would “engage counseling”. He made the best of what he was given (nearly nothing).
I know this family and you are not hearing the whole story. The young man did not leave because he wanted to; he had a choice – leave or go to jail. He was the cause of the turmoil in the house. His mother and sister are now safe because he no longer lives with them. Yes, they sought help. He’s in a home, albeit a group home, now because his mother worked day and night to be sure he was taken care of. He also does get help from his mother. She pays his insurance and school expenses.
I think we are always to quick to blame the parents. These are good parents who had to choose between children. They could allow Samuel to stay in the home and worry about the safety of their daughter, or they could let him go. His mother fought hard to be sure he was not on the streets and did not go to jail. He did not spend one night without a bed and a safe place to live, thanks to his mother’s tireless efforts.
I feel for this mother…I have a teen who has aspergers and NOTHING can be out of place, moved or a routine disrupted. This caused tremendous problems with our other child. Thank goodness he was older and went off to college before things got even worse. I always say that no one would ever believe what we go through everynight just to make it through. We’ve advocated and seeked out help from many agencies including DHHS but there isn’t anything. My husband and myself lived separately for the two years before our son moved on to college — each with a child in order to meet the needs of both our children. It was a terrible time in our lives, I can see if we couldn’t have afforded this option then we would have had to find a safe place for our daughter to get the help she needed. No one should judge what they don’t know about — my daughter is a very smart girl so often times people forget the turmoil she goes through to make sense of her environment as it changes. Not sure what this young mans issues are but I hope he got the help he needed to overcome them. Sounds like he did.
Thank you for your balanced comment. Too often, people read an article and think they know the whole story, but there is always more background than a simple article can shed light on. Newspapers are replete with articles about those who abuse services from DHHS, yet the statistical evidence is that a small percentage of recipients are actually intentionally abusing the system. As a substitute teacher, I am constantly hearing teachers during our 20 minute lunch break (if we make it to lunch at all or on time) complain about parents not fulfilling their roles. Sadly, the teachers assume an awful lot about households simply because the children are on the free lunch program or receive Mainecare. To ASSUME is dangerous and only makes a donkey out of U and ME (read between the lines).
“Service” from DHHS ? Lmao !! All I ever got was lip service…..
One thing that people who do not deal with the mental health or community service system may not realize is that services are voluntary. It is very difficult to get a 16-year-old that thinks they are grown, to participate in a counseling type of program. If a teen does not “buy into” a program and agree to truly work on changing the family dynamic, the service is useless. At that point, they are too old to force participation and may make the home life more miserable because they are adamant there is nothing wrong with them or they don’t need any help. For the most part, parents do not want to make their children leave the home. I have worked with families for a long time who are willing to try absolutely anything before making their child leave. At some point there are children that just need to see for themselves that the grass isn’t greener on the other side and things outside your home are not just handed to you. This young man is fortunate in the opportunities he has had, not all are so lucky.
I am sure that he feels awful about what has happened, but having everyone be safe is important. I’m glad to hear that his mother is still in the picture. I cannot imagine what has gone on with that family.
If you actually knew the family you would respect the privacy that is held in a family. You are making him seem like an awful person and for that you are a very rude, disrespectful, and malicious person, for that I hope that nobody is applauding you.
I’m with you on that one…..anneb76 is obviously a LePagite with no concern for anyone but herself…..
Anneb76 is telling the other side of the story, and it is closer to the truth than what Sam is saying about his family here. He has already destroyed his family’s privacy by saying these things about them in the newspaper. It would be better if the reporter had called his mother or just left that part out if she didn’t want to check on it.
In the article it simply says that he is not willing to comment on his family, and that there has been yelling and screaming. Nothing negative on anyone’s part.
That’s why it’s good to use borth control if you don’t want problems parenting. I raised a son with Asperger’s and went through ABSOLUTE hell ! I never turned him away. I did however have my name and reputation dragged through the mud by all the “perfect” teachers in Guilford schools that refused to provide the special needs schooling they are required to BY LAW. Instead they drove my son out of school until I fought to have him put back in mainstream classes. Wanna hear THEIR solution ? My son is 24 now and after he got his diploma I had to sit him down and teach him to write his name. The school kept throwing him out…DHHS kept threatening ME to get him in….THAT is your State’s idea of Special Needs Education. I can name at least a dozen other towns with the same attitude. Just think what firing all those uselss people in the school and DHHS would save our budget ? Oh yeah that’s right….it’s the poor’s fault. Funny that the school and DHHS …MADE me poor since I had to stop working to take care of him….now I am unemployable because of a 10 yr gap in my resume’. So cough up the tax money people…YOU made it happen.
Sounds like Paul LePage has a mini me ….
In the first place this young man is not “homeless” and from the story never really has been. He just doesn’t like the homes he has lived in. They obviously do not rise to the level of his expectations.
And the cr@p about young people not having social security cards or birth certificates. Neither are difficult to get and I do not know anyone who was not issued a SS card, usually within the first year of life since they cannot be claimed as a dependent on tax forms without it.
It is only recently that SS # has been required for a “tax exemption. Up until the early nineties, the IRS took people’s word, and if they doubted, a birth certificate was sufficient to prove a dependent.
True copy birth certificates cost up to $49 in some jurisdictions, and you obviously have no experience as an unattached youth some of whom have no idea where they were born.
I am surprised to hear this news……..I thought since Obama had become president, there weren’t anymore homeless people
Sam Chamberlain has done well and is to be commended, just as our Governor LePage had overcome homelessness but with foster parents.
The clip about his being on food stamps and MaineCare caught my eye, since the liberals and RINO’s are saying that childless adults should not be kept out of the system. Seems that Sam would come under that at the age of 18, so is this simply a timely article to keep the DHHS cuts from happening?
The Left must perpetuate poverty and homelessness.
Capitalism REQUIRES a pool of unemployed workers, without which it is unable to function.
And the Right…greed and slavery for the people….well…the non-rich people that is….
Lepage hasn’t overcome anything haha. Sorry.
Careful Bella…this comment page is always full of LePagites that CAN’T see the whole truth other than LePage’s….it IS kind of hard to see with their head stuck up Pauly’s butt !
So after reading this story, and the comments it seems that
A.) Bonnie Washuk of the Sun Journal missed half the story (if commentators who seem to know the family are correct)
B.) the commenting public thinks this should be a political issue, and Paul LePage agrees.
Doesn’t this young man know any adults with an extra bedroom? I can’t imagine not helping a person in this situation {IF I KNEW THEM}
wow I have to admit I’m slightly disgusted with this article.. I wonder if they even called his parents to find out the truth…
Read up to AnneB76… she makes him out to be quite the little terror. I don’t think it’s her place to say anything but she felt compelled, so be it.
I too would rather hear the parents side… Why would a parent allow their child to live in homeless shelters. If it’s really THAT bad at home, aren’t there aunts, uncles, grandparents etc? I just don’t get it.
If he was violent and there were other children in the home to protect I could see this getting out of control — at 16 and refusing intervention it may have been the only solution. Sounds like the mother was still very much involved and tried where she could. People are assuming that she didn’t continue to support him, however, perhaps she did who knows because there is only one side to what happened given here. Either way he seems to have changed the direction he was going in and I say Kudos to him!
This is actually really sad if you think about it.
If his parents have incomes they should at least be required to provide minimal support. Just because a student and his/her parents do not get along is not a reason for the the public to have to pick up the tab, either through charity or taxes. There likely are others in greater need.
This is a perfect example of a “hand up” not as “hand out”. Congrats to this young man, he is going to make something of his life. I am very proud of him.
Not if LePage can help it…..
I say KUDOS to you,young man,for making the best of a bad situation…keep your eyes on the prize,graduate from HS and continue on to be a paramedic.You certainly have lived through adversity,and will be empathetic to those in need. Best wishes for your future…you have the world at your fingertips…
Regardless of background or circumstances, this young man proves that ANYONE can achieve their goals. Best of luck to him in his endeavors!! :)
adults could learn alot from this fine young man.
Not only is Chamberlain a good student, “he’s an outstanding citizen,” Galway said.
Chamberlain said he does not have financial support from his family, and qualifies for food stamps and MaineCare.
Republicans take note of this ^ These are the “welfare cheats” you want to take benefits way from………I think people that want this kid to starve are just afraid he will outshine them someday….and this kid will ! Good job LePagites !!
Okay people….the point of this story obviously was less about the youth and HIS story and more about the fact that there is homeless youth. Homeless youth can be homeless for MANY different reasons and not necessarily because of family things.
Some parents (as it seems like in this situation) are GREAT parents and simply run out of resources. So if you want to bash parents then why not bash yourself for showing your children (and if you don’t have children, our children) that it is okay to be rude and disrespectful behind the safety of your computer screen.
Also, don’t give me any of that 1st amendment crap, you do have the right to freedom of speech, but everyone on this forum has the RIGHT to be treated with dignity and respect, and NOBODY has treated this family or the youth with anything of the like.
I hope that everyone knows how disgraceful and rude you all are.
Please contact me a the HOM foundation. We have an awesome program helping the homeless house themselves in their own homes. #REAL CHANGE! Tiffany.Gouch@gmail.com 347.850.4112 if you’d like to be involved.
The HOM foundation helps the homeless build homes and house themselves. Not only giving them access to the American dream but empowering them. And might I add we are doing it inexpensively. For more information contact Tiffany.Gouch@gmail.com
There is another side to this story that was not told by the reporter. See the comments down below by Anneb76. What she said is much closer to the truth than what Sam is telling here. His family helped to get him some very expensive treatment and I don’t know why he left there and is now saying he is homeless. I am glad that he is doing well but he should not be acting like he is all alone and it was his parents fault. They are still supporting him as far as I know. It would be good for reporters to check out all the facts first.
So you know the family? You have worked with the family? He is homeless, and you have no right to say otherwise. His goal is not to get sympathy, but to get the support of the community and raise awareness regarding homelessness.