PENSACOLA, Fla. — The Children’s Home Society of Florida (CHS) has received a $100,000 donation from the City of Pensacola to launch the “Hand Up for Youth” Program, aimed at addressing the increasing number of homeless youth in the community.
The funding will allow CHS to expand its services and create long-term solutions for young people experiencing homelessness.
“A lot of times when you’re driving around, you do see homeless people in our community, but you don’t see homeless youth if you think about it,” said Leah Harrison, executive director of Children’s Home Society of Florida. “They’re not standing on the side of the road with signs. They are sometime couch surfing, sometimes in unsafe situations that put them at risk.”
The Florida Department of Education reported that Escambia County saw 1,913 homeless youth during the last school year, marking an 11% increase from the previous year.
“We see a lot of kids for a variety of reasons, but a lot of these kids aged out of foster care system,” Harrison said. “Especially those who are 18 — very different than me at 18 or other people at 18.”
The Hand Up for Youth Program will focus on two main areas; supportive permanent housing for youth ages 18-23 and hosting homes for homeless youth ages 16-17. Harrison says at least 15 people ages 18-23 will live in an apartment with the first few months rent free.
“This will give them an ability to — depending on the kid — 1 to 6 months of rent,” Harrison said. “Most of them will probably do 3-6 months and then after that they take over the lease and they’re able to continue on and work and pay their rent.”
They must have a job for at least 90 days. The goal is to provide safe housing and boost independence.
For those ages 16 and 17, Harrison says they’ll be placed in “host homes” that will work similar to a foster home.
“Taking them to school or making sure they go to school, they (host families) will receive a stipend which is part of where that funding is going,” Harrison said. “And then house, feed them, clothe them, all of those things and really just provide a positive adult in their life.”
Harrison says there will be case management for 18 months to ensure they meet their goals and requirements. Then there’s one year of follow up services.
For more information about the Hand Up for Youth Program, becoming a host home, or supporting this initiative, contact the Director of Homeless Youth Programming Kelli Foster at kelli.foster@chsfl.org. You can also read more here.
The program shared this story about a candidate to further portray the program’s impact and vision:
“Our first candidate for the Hand Up Program is a 19-year-old male from Escambia County. He was referred to CHS for housing and street outreach services as he was experiencing homelessness, specifically sleeping in an abandoned vehicle. Upon an intake assessment, we learned he was working and had held a job for over 4 months, and he would be starting a second job to secure more hours. He was very motivated to find safe, stable housing so he would have a place to sleep, wash clothes, and cook meals. We made a realistic budget, and he began researching apartment complexes. He was not successful with the first application due to the agency not willing to make any exceptions to rental guidelines; however, he found an independent homeowner willing to work with the Program and more importantly willing to work with a young person with no rental history or credit. He should be able to move in any day now and we will help him secure furniture and with the financial pieces until he takes over fully after 3-6 months. He will continue to have supportive services for 18 months and then 1 year of aftercare services.”
Orginially posted by WEAR News 3
By Sha’de Ray