Homeless Youth Alliance Inc

THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO MEET YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WHERE THEY ARE, SEE THEM ALL AS INDIVIDUALS WITH UNIQUE EXPERIENCES AND LIFE STORIES AND HELP THEM TO BUILD HEALTHIER LIVES. THE ORGANIZATION BELIEVES REDUCING HARM IS POSSIBLE THROUGH THE PROVISION OF ACCESSIBLE, RESPECTFUL NON-JUDGMENTAL RELATIONSHIPS, SERVICES AND ACCURATE UP-TO-DATE REFERRALS AND INFORMATION. THE ORGANIZATION STRIVES TO EMPOWER YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES, EDUCATE EACH OTHER, REDUCE HARM WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, AND WHEN THEY ARE READY AND HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSITION OFF THE STREET.

HOMELESS YOUTH ALLIANCE HYA WAS CREATED BY AND FOR THE COMMUNITY IT WORKS WITH. HYA BELIEVES THAT THE BEST WAY TO FOSTER SUCCESS IS BY ADOPTING A PROACTIVE APPROACH, WHILE REMAINING MINDFUL THAT THOSE HYA SERVES HAVE A RIGHT TO DETERMINE THE COURSE OF THEIR OWN LIVES AND THEIR OWN CARE. ACCORDINGLY, HYA STRIVES TO HIRE PEOPLE WHO EITHER HAVE COME DIRECTLY FROM THE POPULATION IT WORKS WITH OR WHO HAVE SHARED SIMILAR LIFE EXPERIENCES. FOR A YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS TO KNOW THAT THE PERSON SITTING ACROSS FROM THEM HAS EXPERIENCED AND SURVIVED SIMILAR THINGS TO WHAT THEY ARE GOING THROUGH, ALLOWS HYA TO ENGAGE FROM A PLACE OF TRUE KNOWING, LESSENING THE DEEPLY ROOTED STIGMA AND SHAME THAT ARE SO INTERTWINED WITH HOMELESSNESS. HOMELESS YOUTH ALLIANCE GETS TO DEMONSTRATE THAT LONG-TERM CHANGE IS POSSIBLE. AFTER LOSING THE DROP-IN CENTER, HYA PIVOTED TOWARDS TAKING OUR CORE SERVICES - OUTREACH, CASE MANAGEMENT, FOOD ACCESS, HARM REDUCTION SERVICES, MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH CARE, DRUG TREATMENT, AND GROUPS - TO YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WHERE THEY ARE. IT IS THROUGH CONSISTENTLY PROVIDING THESE SERVICES THAT TRUSTING RELATIONSHIPS ARE FORMED AND CHANGE HAPPENS.