Business & Tech

Buenas Vidas Youth Ranch Closing

The support ranch for troubled youth is closing after seeing funding cut.

After supporting troubled boys for 40 years, Buenas Vidas Youth Ranch is closing due to a lack of funding, the Contra Costa Times reports.

The 5-acre horse ranch on Tesla Road is being sold off to pay off debts.

Boys at the ranch were given responsibility, caring and feeding animals, including horses and llamas.

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"These kids all had responsibilities for these large pets," said Ken Jacobsen, Buenas Vidas' board president. "Being able to care about something else seemed to have a big therapeutic impact on a lot of the kids' lives."

State funding for group homes started to be cut in 2010, and Alameda County stopped sending boys to the ranch.

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The ranch tried to transition and focus on girls, teaming up with MISSSEY -- Motivating, Inspiring, Supporting and Serving Sexually Exploited Youth.

But last year a "series of unfortunate events" over an outdated city ordinance meant they faced a year of before they could get a girls' program off the ground, so board members decided the best course was to close, the Times reported.

What positive impact do you think Buenas Vidas Youth Ranch has had on the Livermore community? Tell us in the comments section.


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