No young person should be homeless in Indianapolis

Youth and young adult homelessness is not a new crisis. We’ve been on this mission for 50 years. But we’re happy to report that as a community, Indianapolis is taking bold new steps to serve the needs of these young people—and it’s working!

As an organization that shelters and houses youth and young adults, we have a pivotal role to play in stopping the cycle of recurring homelessness before it takes hold of a young person’s future.

National data and new prevention models tell us that if we can intervene when a person is young, provide supportive connections to caring adults, and guide them toward age-appropriate resources, we can greatly improve their chances of becoming productive, contributing members of our community.

That’s good for them, and it’s good for our city.

Community action works

Between 2018 and 2019, there was a

22.4%

reduction in the number of youth and young adults experiencing homelessness in Indianapolis.

The work we do depends on the commitment and generosity of others. Here are some of the ways we use your financial support to further the impact of our mission.

• Grow and invest our resources, so we’re able to adequately respond to young people’s needs in our program.
• Recruit, train, and retain qualified staff and volunteers.
• Build capacity to expand our work to help more young people succeed.
• Design new programs, informed by the voices of the young people we serve.
• Practice good stewardship to sustain our programs when times are tough and earn the trust of those who generously support us.
• Maintain our Indianapolis properties so we can provide a home-like environment and be good neighbors.
• Share our mission and the community’s efforts with others.

Make a one-time or recurring donation:

One of the most powerful ways you can support our mission is to help us educate others.

The stigma associated with homelessness can be as damaging to a young person’s future as the trauma of living through it.

Feeling misunderstood and being treated as though they’ve chosen to be homeless often prevents young people from seeking help. When in reality, no young person DECIDES to be without a loving family, a safe home, or a promising future.

Most, if not all, of the young people we serve are fleeing violence, poverty, or abuse. Many have been discarded or neglected by those they should have been able to count on.

By learning more about the root causes of youth homelessness and sharing what you know in conversations, on social media, and with those in power, you can help us to build a more compassionate community response.

If you or your organization are interested in volunteering, we’d love to hear from you. Our volunteer needs change throughout the year, so please check all areas that interest you and we’ll be in touch!