Lost-N-Found Youth Inc

LOST-N-FOUND YOUTH IS AN ATLANTA, GEORGIA BASED NONPROFIT (501C3) THAT EXISTS TO END HOMELESSNESS FOR LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUEER (LGBTQ+) AND ALL SEXUAL MINORITY YOUTH.

EMERGENCY SERVICES: THE EMERGENCY SERVICES PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO BE THE FIRST STEP IN THE CONTINUUM OF ASSISTANCE TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS AND ENABLE HOMELESS YOUTH AS THEY MOVE TOWARDS INDEPENDENCE AND STABLE HOUSING. EMERGENCY SERVICES PROVIDED BY LNFY INCLUDE STREET OUTREACH, DAY SHELTER, EMERGENCY BEDS AND RAPID REHOUSING. EMERGENCY HOUSING: LOST-N-FOUND YOUTH PROVIDES THE EMERGENCY HOUSING PROGRAM TO MEET THE IMMEDIATE HOUSING NEEDS OF HOMELESS YOUTHS, UP TO 90 DAYS, OR UNTIL OUR CASE MANAGERS LOCATE A STABLE ALTERNATIVE LIVING ARRANGEMENT FOR THE CLIENT. DURING THE CLIENT'S TIME AT LOST-N-FOUND EMERGENCY HOUSE, YOUTH HAVE 3 SQUARE MEALS PER DAY, CLOTHING, AND THE RANGE OF SERVICES PROVIDED THROUGH THE LNFY YOUTH CENTER. THE COVID EPIDEMIC REQUIRED LNFY TO ADD QUARANTINE/ISOLATION HOUSING SERVICES IN ADDITION TO OUR USUAL SUPPORT. OUTSIDE EMERGENCY HOUSING: LGBTQ+ YOUTH REPRESENT THOUSANDS OF THE YOUTH LIVING ON THE STREETS IN ATLANTA. BECAUSE OF LIMITED SPACE IN LNFY'S HOUSING PROGRAM IT IS OFTEN NECESSARY TO HOUSE YOUTH IN OTHER FACILITIES UNTIL A BED BECOMES AVAILABLE IN THE YOUTH HOUSE OR IN A MORE LONG-TERM PARTNER FACILITY DEPENDING ON AVAILABLE FUNDS, LNFY WILL PAY FOR UP TO 1 MONTH OF HOUSING AT OUTSIDE SHELTERS WHILE CLIENTS WORK WITH CASE MANAGEMENT STAFF TO IDENTIFY MORE STABLE HOUSING.HOMELESS YOUTH SERVICES CENTER (YOUTH CENTER): THE YOUTH CENTER IS FIRST AND FOREMOST A SAFE HAVEN WHICH PROVIDES A VARIETY OF SERVICES INCLUDING SHOWERS, LAUNDRY, LUNCH, DINNER, HYGIENE KITS, SHELF STABLE FOOD PACKS, CLOTHING VOUCHERS, LOST ID DOCUMENT ASSISTANCE, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION VOUCHERS, MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING, CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, LINKAGE TO HEALTHCARE, LINKAGE TO MENTAL HEALTHCARE, LIFE-SKILLS TRAINING, JOB READINESS TRAINING, RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AND ACCESS THE YOUTH HOUSE (FOR OVERNIGHT SERVICES). LNFY ALSO PROVIDES SUPPLIES AND SERVICES RELATED TO COVID SAFETY. THE YOUTH CENTER ALLOWS YOUTH TO GET OFF THE STREETS FOR UP TO 12 HOURS PER DAY AND TAKE A BREAK FROM HOMELESSNESS. CLIENTS CAN REST, CHARGE THEIR PHONES, USE THE RESTROOM, USE THE INTERNET, HAVE A HOT CUP OF COFFEE OR TEA, TALK TO A STAFF MEMBER. OUTREACH: THE LNFY STREET OUTREACH TEAM PROVIDES SERVICES TO HOMELESS LGBTQ+ YOUTH STILL LIVING ON THE STREET OR IN UNSTABLE HOUSING. THE STREET OUTREACH TEAM CONDUCTS OUTREACH TO UNSHELTERED HOMELESS YOUTH, TO LINK CLIENTS TO HOUSING OR OTHER NECESSARY SERVICES, AND PROVIDE ONGOING SUPPORT. DURING STREET OUTREACH THE STREET OUTREACH TEAM DISTRIBUTES WARM COATS, BLANKETS AND SLEEPING BAGS, SHELF STABLE FOOD PACKS, HYGIENE KITS, MASKS, AND INFORMATION ABOUT LNFY YOUTH CENTER. STREET OUTREACH VOLUNTEERS ALSO PROVIDE REFERRALS TO EMERGENCY HOUSING AND OTHER SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. 24 HOUR EMERGENCY HOTLINE: LNFY OPERATES A VOLUNTEER RUN 24-HOUR EMERGENCY HOTLINE. FOR MOST OF LNFY'S LGBT HOMELESS YOUTH CLIENTS THE HOTLINE IS THE FIRST POINT OF CONTACT. HOTLINE COUNSELORS ASSESS AND TRIAGE YOUTH NEEDS, CREATE REFERRALS TO PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, AND INITIATE THE PROGRAMS INTAKE PROCESS. HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION/CASE MANAGEMENT: LNFY CASE MANAGERS WORK WITH CLIENTS TO DEVELOP LONG TERM INDEPENDENCE PLANNING, AND REFERRAL PLANS. CASE MANAGERS ARE ALSO ABLE TO PROVIDE RENTAL AND UTILITIES ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT YOUTH IN INDEPENDENT HOUSING. THROUGH THE HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION PROGRAM LNFY HELPS CLIENTS AT-RISK OF HOMELESSNESS TO MAINTAIN THEIR EXISTING HOUSING OR TRANSITION TO NEW PERMANENT HOUSING. THIS PROGRAM IS RELIANT ON THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.

TRANSITIONAL HOUSING: TRANSITIONAL HOUSING (TH) AT LOST-N-FOUND YOUTH PROVIDES YOUTH WITH 6 TO 12 MONTHS OF HOUSING WHILE THEY DEVELOP AND WORK THROUGH INDEPENDENT HOUSING GOALS. YOUTH IN TRANSITIONAL HOUSING MAINTAIN FULL TIME EMPLOYMENT, SAVE HALF THEIR EARNINGS, PARTICIPATE IN LIFE SKILLS, FINANCIAL LITERACY, NUTRITION AND COOKING AND HOUSEKEEPING TRAINING CLASSES TO PREPARE THEM FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING. YOUTH HOUSE: THE YOUTH HOUSE IS A 6-BED FACILITY LOCATED IN ATLANTA'S HISTORIC WEST END WHICH HOUSES YOUTH FOR UP TO 6 MONTHS WHILE THEY BUILD THEIR INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY FOR INDEPENDENCE, SELF-SUFFICIENCY AND PERMANENT HOUSING. WHILE ENROLLED IN THE YOUTH HOUSE YOUTH ARE REQUIRED TO SECURE AND MAINTAIN FULL TIME EMPLOYMENT, SAVE 60% OF THEIR EARNINGS, ABSTAIN FROM DRUGS AND ALCOHOL, MEET TWICE PER WEEK WITH CASE MANAGERS, AND COMPLY WITH ALL CURFEWS AND RULES OF THE HOUSE. RAPID REHOUSING: RAPID RE-HOUSING IS AN INTERVENTION DESIGNED TO HELP INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES QUICKLY EXIT HOMELESSNESS AND RETURN TO PERMANENT HOUSING. RAPID RE-HOUSING ASSISTANCE IS OFFERED WITHOUT PRECONDITIONS - LIKE EMPLOYMENT, INCOME, ABSENCE OF CRIMINAL RECORD, OR SOBRIETY - AND THE RESOURCES AND SERVICES PROVIDED ARE TAILORED TO THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF THE HOUSEHOLD.

THRIFT STORE: THE CORPORATE OFFICES OF LNFY ARE LOCATED AT 2585 CHANTILLY DRIVE INSIDE OF THE LOST-N-FOUND THRIFT (THRIFT STORE) STORE. IN ADDITION TO CORPORATE OFFICES THE THRIFT STORE IS A DONATION CENTER AND SERVES AS THE FIRST POINT OF CONTACT FOR MANY VOLUNTEERS, DONORS AND CLIENTS. THE THRIFT STORE ALSO HOUSE SEVERAL OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED TO HOMELESS CLIENTS BY LNFY. LAUNDRY: HOMELESS YOUTH CLIENTS HAVE ACCESS TO LAUNDRY SERVICES LOCATED AT THE THRIFT STORE AND AT THE NEW LOCATION FOR THE YOUTH CENTER. THE LAUNDRY ROOM AT THE THRIFT STORE IS EQUIPPED WITH WASHERS (2), DRYERS (2), FOLDING STATION, AND COMPLIMENTARY LAUNDRY SOAP. ANY REGISTERED LNFY CLIENT WITH A REFERRAL FROM A LNFY CASE MANAGER CAN BRING UP TO FOUR LOADS PER DAY TO WASH AT LNFY FOR ABSOLUTELY NO COST. THE LAUNDRY ROOM AT THE YOUTH CENTER IS EQUIPPED WITH ONE WASHER AND ONE DRYER. BECAUSE THE LAUNDRY ROOM DOUBLES AS A BREAK ROOM FOR THE THRIFT STORE EMPLOYEES IT IS STOCKED WITH COFFEE, TEA, WATER AND PASTRIES FOR CLIENTS AND EMPLOYEES. SHOWERS: THE THRIFT STORE HOUSES ONE OF THREE CLIENT SHOWERS. OTHER SHOWERS AVAILABLE FOR CLIENTS INCLUDE ONE ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE YOUTH CENTER. THE THIRD IS LOCATED AT THE YOUTH CENTER ON THE THIRD FLOOR ADJACENT TO DORMITORY. THIS SHOWER IS AVAILABLE FROM 7:00 PM - 9:45 PM FOR RESIDENTIAL CLIENTS. WITH A REFERRAL FROM A LNFY CASE MANAGER CLIENTS HAVE ACCESS TO ON-SITE, FREE, SAFE SHOWER FACILITIES EQUIPPED WITH COMPLIMENTARY TOILETRIES AND CLEAN LINENS. CLOTHING VOUCHERS: LNFY PROVIDES FREE CLOTHING AND SHOES TO ITS HOMELESS AND AT-RISK CLIENTS. WITH A VOUCHER FROM THE YOUTH CENTER LNFY CLIENTS SHOP FOR THE APPAREL OF THEIR CHOICE. APARTMENT PACKS: WHEN CLIENTS ARE READY TO MOVE INTO STABLE AND INDEPENDENT HOUSING ON THEIR OWN LNFY PROVIDES MANY OF THE START-UP ESSENTIALS NECESSARY FOR A NEW HOUSEHOLD. APARTMENT PACKS INCLUDE: -POTS & PANS -DISHES -TOWELS -SHEETS AND LINENS -BLANKETS & COMFORTERS -SMALL KITCHEN APPLIANCES -FURNITURE (BEDS, COUCHES, DINING TABLES AND CHAIRS ETC.) -SHAMPOOS, CONDITIONER, SOAP, AND OTHER ESSENTIAL TOILETRIES -CLEANING SUPPLIES FOOD PANTRY: MANAGED BY THE THRIFT STORE, LNFY MAINTAINS A 500 SQUARE FEET FOOD PANTRY WHICH SUPPLIES MOST OF THE FOOD SERVED AT THE YOUTH SERVICES CENTER, THE YOUTH HOUSE, AND DISTRIBUTED IN THE SHELF STABLE OUTREACH FOOD PACKS. WITH A REFERRAL FROM A CASE MANAGER OR AN APARTMENT PACK VOUCHER LNFY CLIENTS ARE PROVIDED WITH STARTING PANTRIES FOR NEW STABLE AND INDEPENDENT HOMES.