Homeless Youth program

 The Youth Service Bureau's HYP addresses  the needs of the older adolescent and the young adult ages 16 to 24 who  are homeless.  Youth who are under the age of 18 and homeless must  reside at the Youth Service Bureau group home with parental permission unless the  youth is an emancipated minor.  Homeless youth between the ages of 18 to  24 reside in subsidized community apartments.
 

Homeless for HYP is defined as having no legal domicile and/or residing  on the street or in an unsafe living environment.  Youth participants  will be eligible for services for up to 24 months or until their 24th  birthday.  Married homeless youth are included.
 

HYP provides participants with a cluster of services designed to  education and train participants in the skills they need to live  independently.  These services include weekly individual and group  counseling.  The group modules include but are not limited to daily  living skills, transportation, community access, consumer skills,  cooking, job search skills, and good work habits.
 

The content for individual and group work includes:
 

• Basic life skills - apartment  living, cooking, nutrition, consumer education, budgeting, paying rent  and utilities, household maintenance and home safety
• Job preparation and attainment
• Emotional and mental health -  conflict resolution, dealing with isolation, loneliness, depression,  stress management, coping with anger & problem solving
• Parenting training and assistance in accessing quality day care
• Substance abuse prevention, education, and treatment
• Physical and mental health care - what it is and how to access it
• Use of community resources - how to obtain needed documents, access community services and utilize public transportation
• Educational issues
• Leisure time activities - each  participant works with a case manager who assists them with the  practical application of their new skills, assist with problems, monitor  progress and advocate on behalf of each participant

The goal of this program is to assist homeless youth in achieving independence and self sufficiency.