There’s no one-size-fits all definition of young people experiencing homelessness.
We know that the majority of homeless youth have a history of trauma, and often times long-term physical, emotional and mental health issues. Others have been radically affected by a sudden change in family circumstances and must fend for themselves.
When young people arrive at our doors, they are in need of a supportive community that understands what faces them each day and can guide them through rebuilding their lives. HOPE 4 Youth is that place!
Every day, 20-30 young people walk through our Drop-In Center door. We work hard to help these young people by providing them with their most basic needs such as:
- Food from our food pantry
- Clothes, coats and shoes from our clothing closet
- Hygiene products
- A hot shower
- A hot, nutritious meal
- Laundry facilities
Then we help put them on a path to their future by:
- Providing Case Managament
- Securing safe, affordable housing
- Finding employment
- Finishing their education
- Accessing health and wellness services, including on-site health care at HOPE Clinic
- Meeting spiritual needs via Christian-based HOPE TreeHouse, after-hours
Hope Place
When the doors of the Drop-In Center close, many of the young people find themselves couch-hopping or back on the streets. The only way to change this is to provide long-term housing solutions. In late 2016, we opened HOPE Place, our new transitional housing program. Twelve young people are calling HOPE Place home while learning the skills they need to becoming an independent, self-sustaining adults.
