Homeless Youth Connection

 In partnership with the community, HYC’s mission is to raise awareness and meet the needs of homeless youth so they can stay in school and graduate. HYC’s goal is to provide homeless teens with host families, basic needs and services as they make positive, life-affirming choices toward becoming responsible, productive adults.

Together with educators, government agencies, faith-based organizations, and compassionate community members and donors, HYC is helping to bring a positive future to this nearly forgotten population.

In the 2014 AZ Homelessness Annual Report, the Department of Education Homeless Education Office reported 29,764 children were homeless throughout the state. In the 70+ Valley high schools served by HYC, more than 1,800 youth have been identified as homeless. These students face numerous barriers to education, keeping many of them from completing high school or achieving post-secondary education. This affects a young person’s future ability to live independently, and results in undeveloped learning and communication skills, leading youth to have future difficulty integrating into society.

Currently, there are limited social services in the East and West Valleys, none of which serve homeless youth.

Unaccompanied homeless youth, often referred to as “youth on their own,” is the most difficult subpopulation of homeless to quantify. Many homeless youth do what they have to do in order to survive, such as sleeping in cars, bartering sex for shelter, “couch surfing” from one friend’s house to another, or residing with abusive family members who threaten to “kick them out.” Without real support, such youth may find themselves in and out of jail, dependent on the welfare system, or living their life in a chronic state of crisis.

HYC is a preventive measure to the potential negative life experiences above. If a homeless youth does not have to worry about where he is going to sleep that night or where his next meal is coming from, he can focus on staying in school and getting his diploma.

HYC serves homeless youth ages 13-19 who are attending local high schools. Youth are provided with basic necessities, case management, housing if needed, life skills and mentors to ensure they have the resources to stay in school, complete their education and have a chance at a brighter future.