LOFT, Living Options for Teens, is still looking for money to fully fund its transitional living program for youth until March 2014.

The Bend shelter has seen a generous outpouring of donations since the community heard that a glitch with a federal grant application created a $200,000 budget hole for a one-year grant cycle starting in March. So far, the shelter has raised a little more than $40,000, all from individual donations of community members, said Amanda Gow, development and communications manager for J Bar J Youth Services Administration. LOFT is affiliated with the nonprofit organization and is part of the Cascade Youth and Family Center.

Those individual donations have varied in size from $15 to $5,000, she said.

The shelter provides transitional housing for youth from a variety of challenging backgrounds, such as abuse, unstable family lives and homelessness and runaway situations. Historically, the center has strongly relied on a $200,000-a-year grant through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

But that source of funding won’t be available, following a glitch with the grant application.

The contractor that processes grant applications for the government didn’t access all the pages of the online application, dropping the ranking of the shelter’s application.

“The federal grant is a $200,000-per-year grant, so there’s still a hefty sum of money we’ve got to come up with,” said shelter manager Pat Gundy.

The shelter has embarked on a publicity push to get the word out about its challenge. The goal is to bridge the one-year period during which the LOFT won’t receive the federal grant dollars. The shelter plans to reapply for the grant again this year, though that money won’t be available until March 2014.

Gundy said the shelter’s efforts to raise awareness have helped, and he thanked the community.

“This year it seems to be in the front of people’s minds,” he said. “It’s been helpful. It’s a pretty generous community.”

The shelter plans to apply for foundation grants to keep going, along with continuing its fundraising push for individual contributions.

Part of that effort includes television public service announcements with Neil Bryant, a local attorney and former state senator, making the case for helping the facility.

Bend television station KTVZ approached Bryant about helping with the PSA, Bryant said. A member of the Oregon State Senate from 1993 to 2001, Bryant adds a familiar face to the drive for funding.

“Thank you to all those who gave,” he said.

The LOFT sheltered 27 youths in 2012. One of those is Connor, an 18-year-old senior at Mountain View High School. Connor said it’s a great environment for making friends, staying in school and planning for college.

After leaving a stressful family situation, he said, the shelter is more than just a place to stay.

“To me, it’s a new home,” he said.

You can help

For information about how to donate, call The LOFT at 541-318-3436. Donations are tax-deductible.