Prospects look brighter today for Boston-area youth and young adults facing homelessness, street involvement, and health challenges thanks to a $1 million gift to Y2Y Harvard Square and Youth on Fire, which share space in Harvard Square. The endowment from Karen and Rob Hale through their family foundation, Fox Rock Foundation, will fuel the work of these nonprofits far into the future.
Y2Y Harvard Square is the nation’s first young-adult-led homeless shelter, offering 22 beds, meals, health care, and life skills to young adults 18 to 24. Youth on Fire, a program of Fenway Health, is a drop-in food, health, and housing-referral center for homeless and street-involved youth ages 14 to 24.
Meeting growing challenges
More than 150 young adults in the Boston area have no sleeping arrangements for tonight, and that number is growing, according to Cameron Van Fossen, Executive Director of the Y2Y Network. “We are so grateful to the Hale family for this generous gift,” Van Fossen said. “It means the most vulnerable young adults will find a safe, warm, friendly place to stay when they desperately need it, and more young adults will access pathways out of homelessness.”
Youth on Fire serves over 200 young adults who make over 3,000 visits to Youth on Fire every year, a rate that has doubled in the last two years. “Youth on Fire provides young people with needed services, essential support, and real opportunities to help them in their efforts to live safer, healthier, more fulfilling lives,” said Fenway Health Chief Executive Officer Ellen LaPointe. “This incredibly generous gift from the Hales will enable us to expand what we are able to offer and to reach even more young people. We are beyond grateful.”
Young adults with housing challenges and street involvement are at high risk of communicable disease and victimization. Y2Y’s overnight program and Youth on Fire’s daytime program together provide 24/7 attention to guests’ needs. Both organizations are queer/trans-led and provide a welcoming environment for all, including LGBTQIA+ guests.
“Having support at YOF and a safe place to stay at Y2Y made a big difference for me,” said Chris, 22. “It gave me the foundation I needed to make the progress I have.”
The gift is part of a Fox Rock Foundation initiative to award a million-dollar endowment to a worthy organization every week in 2022. Despite that busy cadence, Y2Y and Youth on Fire hold a special place in the Hale family’s heart. “My family cares deeply about equality and dignity for every human being regardless of their race, gender, orientation, or housing status,” said Brett Hale. “Y2Y and Youth on Fire live out these values every day. Not only are they saving lives but they are helping young people find their footing, stay healthy, and develop their full potential. It’s so inspiring.”
—from a Fenway Health press release
More: y2ynetwork.org; aac.org/youth-on-fire/
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