Loading...
FHCHI - youth house - brochure, final.pdfThe Problem Youth is a challenging time. Adding homelessness and the absence of family to the mix creates a very high-risk group: unaccompanied homeless youth. Studies have shown that 25% of youth aging out of state residential or foster care will be homeless within 12 months; over 50% with 30 months. Worse, many become “stuck” in cyclical, long-term homelessness. Local shelter data for 2014 shows: • 61 youth in shelter. • 38% were aged 17-21, and 62% were 22-24 years. • 66% stayed in shelter for 1 to 12 months, indicating this was not a short term need. “I never really had housing stability, my dad split and we were constantly moving around. My mom would kick me out for the simplest things and eventually one day she said, “Oh, we’re getting evicted, time to pack up.” So, at that point I knew that I had to leave and figure my own stuff out for survival’s sake. I couldn’t really rely on anyone.” A Solution The Friends are planning to purchase a house to offer local homeless young people a safe home base, with support services for building a healthy, independent life. The purchased property will be furnished and made ready for occupation, and then the Friends will deed the property to our partners, DIAL/SELF, for maintenance and provision of services. We are excited about this new initiative that will provide Northampton with the additional services needed for this population, currently underserved locally. DIAL/SELF is a nonprofit agency that has offered youth services throughout the Pioneer Valley since 1977. It has a proven track record in helping homeless youth with housing and support services. The agency is skilled at developing individualized plans for each person served. DIAL/SELF also has staff working on street outreach, to locate and engage this often hard-to-reach population. “I have been with the DIAL/SELF Housing First Program for the past year. For the first time in my life I’ve felt like the ground isn’t going to be moving out from underneath my feet.” The Need for Action The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education estimates that nearly 6,000 high school students are experiencing homelessness and out on their own. Thousands more unaccompanied youth and young adults experiencing homelessness are not reflected in these numbers because they have already dropped out of school or are older and have finished school. There is a desperate need for increased shelter and housing options for youth living withhout their parents. We have an opportunity to shift the future for young people in our community. Data and experience shows that when youth are given stable opportunities for housing and ongoing support in the critical age between 18 and 24, it can change the trajectory and create a pathway to housing, financial stability, and well-being. Rather than entering the pipeline to chronic homelessness, youth will have a platform for success. Our Goal Our goal is to raise $700,000 ($150,000 is already raised). See the back of this brochure for how you can join us in this initiative! The Friends purchased Yvonne’s House to serve the chronically homeless. 1-2016 P.O. Box 60398 Florence, MA 01062 www.hamphomeless.org Homeless Youth: A Platform for Success Working to change our community’s response to homelessness. How You Can Help There are many ways you can help The Friends continue our mission: Donate: Donations may be made online or mailed: Friends of Hampshire County Homeless P.O. Box 60398 Florence, MA 01062 www.hamphomeless.org Volunteer: We need volunteers to: • Serve as solicitation captains • Suggest potential donors • Assist in cosmetic repairs • Organize donations of household furnishings and supplies Facebook: Like us on Facebook at http://facebook.com/FriendsOfHampshireCounty- Homeless The Friends The Friends of Hampshire County Homeless Individuals is a non-profit, all volunteer organization that was formed some twenty years ago and which in partnership with ServiceNet operates the Interfaith Emergency Homeless shelter in the six winter months on Center Street in Northampton. Our mission is to provide financial and volunteer support for the shelter and its associated programs. This includes support for many different programs, all of which contribute to the core goal of helping homeless people find a better life. The Friends has been inspired by the Housing First movement to create permanent housing for homeless individuals. Housing First shows that homeless people are more able to rebuild their lives when provided with permanent housing first, and then receiving support services, rather than the other way around as in the traditional shelter model. The Friends purchased the Gandara-Friends House to serve previously homeless individuals committed to sober living. now the second back panel can flesh out how people can help us reach our goal. (money, suggestions, spreading the word etc.) For More Information 1. Visit our website at www.hamphomeless.org 2. Call Rick Hart, President, at 413.320.1886, or Yvonne Freccero 413.586.2354. 3. Email Rick at info@hamphomeless.org.