RESOURCES
4 CHANGE
A4C and the CoC believe that ending homelessness is only possible when the voices of people with lived experience are utilizing their expertise to change systems. We believe that ending homelessness is possible, that housing is essential to ending homelessness and homelessness should not define those who experience it.
A4C offers training on authentic engagement and power sharing. Please find our most recent presentation here.
TOOLS THAT ACTUALLY HELP.
WHAT IS AUTHENTIC YOUTH ENGAGEMENT AND WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
Authentic engagement is characterized by meaningful youth-adult partnerships in which youth and young adults (YYA) feel respected, valued and trusted. Youth will have the opportunities to lead, learn, make decisions and to work to implement their ideas and help shape their communities.
YOUTH HOMELESSNESS DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM
To create the system we outlined, A4C and the CoC successfully applied for and was selected as a Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) community and received $3.7M!
YOUTH HOMELESSNESS DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM
WHAT IS THE YOUTH HOMELESSNESS DEMONSTRATIVE PROGRAM?
The Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) is funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help communities serve youth under 25 years of age experiencing homelessness/housing instability. The Western PA Continuum of Care (CoC) has received $3.7 million dollars to create a Coordinated Community Plan, as well as projects, that will prevent and end youth homelessness.
WHAT IS THE COORDINATED COMMUNITY PLAN?
This plan includes data on youth homelessness in our region, our goals, objectives and action steps; the projects that we funded with YHDP, and a continuous quality improvement plan. Please view our CCP by clicking here.
If you are a youth aged 16-25 who is experiencing homelessness or housing instability and live in Crawford County, please reach out to Mar Harkless at mharkless@chapsinc.org to discuss Host Homes, Systems Navigation and/or Permanent Supportive Housing.
If you are a youth aged 16-25 who is experiencing homelessness or housing instability and live in Westmoreland County, please reach out to Matthew Madison at mmadison@westmorelandca.org to discuss Host Homes, Systems Navigation and/or Transitional Housing/Rapid Rehousing.
If you are a youth aged 16-25 who is experiencing homelessness or housing instability and live in any of the CoC’s other 18 counties, please reach out to Matthew Madison at mmadison@westmorelandca.org to discuss Systems Navigation.
If you would like to learn more about the housing programs, please view this PowerPoint.