Beulah’s Place helps Redmond teens in need

Redmond’s Andi Buerger and her husband, Ed, have made it their mission to help teens in need. They started a non-profit called Buelah’s Place.

Named so after Ed’s mother, who was known for feeding the neighborhood and giving to many.

As personal as this mission is to Ed, it’s just as personal for Andi, now a vibrant and outgoing woman.

“Look at me now,” Andi said through laughter Wednesday. “I’m happier now, at 50-whatever, than I’ve ever been.”

It hasn’t always been this way for her. Andi was trafficked for sex from the age of 6 months to 17 years old.

At 17, she decided she’d had enough.

“God bailed me out and gave me purpose to continue,” Andi said.

Her purpose being Beulah’s Place. Redmond’s first organization to help homeless teens puts them in safe houses if they need a place to live, provides guidance, and even clothes.

“She bought me a coat because I didn’t have those necessities,” said Chelsie, who asked us not to use her last name. “That might be small to other people but that was huge to me.”

A small gesture to some, but not to these teens.

“Fifty percent of them come from highly abusive situations,” Andi said. “The other 50 percent have been thrown out, kicked out for some reason.”

They’ve helped about 20 teens to date with everything from homelessness to sex abuse.

“Back and forth, I had been homeless and sleeping at men’s places or wherever I could find a spot,” Chelsie said.

Beulah’s Place also helps teens who have at-home hardships.

“I just had some family troubles I needed to get away from,” said Shane, who also asked not to use his last name.

Andi knows all too well that many times these kids need someone to believe in them.

“A lot of the times they just need a second chance from an objective person to say, you’re totally worthy and we’re going to help you out,” Andi said.

Both teens said that seeking help is a hard step to take.

“They want you to be scared and afraid to do anything but speak out,” Chelsie said.

“You’re going to be scared at first no matter what you do,” Shane said.

Good advice, from a young 19-year-old.

“My pain outweighed my fear,” Chelsie said of her first step toward her new life.

Taking that step for these teens has made all the difference.

“On an emotional standpoint, what everyone wants, peace of mind — I have that,” Chelsie said.

Not only does Beulah’s Place house these kids, but they make a step-by-step plan for them to succeed.

“You can change your present and your future,” Andi said. “The past does not have to define you.”

For more information, or how you can help, visit http://www.beulahsplace.org/