SPOKANE — A brand new homeless shelter for teens opened in Spokane on Thursday morning.

Crosswalk Spokane moved from its downtown location to a new site near Spokane Community College.

The move was prompted by teen residents' safety concerns, as well as problems with the condition of the previous facility, employees said.

"When I went on a walk through here last spring I burst into tears when I saw the fireplace... such a normal sort of living area where kids could feel like other kids," said one speaker during Thursday's grand opening ceremony.

Crosswalk Spokane was established in 1985 and serves hundreds of young people each year. The organization is the only licensed emergency shelter in Eastern Washington dedicated specifically to serving runaway and homeless youth between the ages

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