Emergency Host Home: Providing Youth Experiencing Homelessness Housing

About the Program

Category: Human Services (Best in Category)

Year: 2020

Maricopa County is dedicated to providing funds for projects that address services and housing needs for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Maricopa County Human Services Department (MCHSD) partnered with the Catholic Charities and Homeless Youth Connection to help acquire and renovate a home that will serve as a safe Emergency Host Home for homeless youth to stay while they’re connected to a more permanent Host Family Home.The purpose of the MCHSD grant was to provide the youth ages 13-19 experiencing homelessness in the West Valley with a safe, secure, and stable home. Homeless Youth Connection’s Emergency Host Home provides an immediate safe, supervised, and nurturing environment while the organization locates a stable and permanent Host Family Home. After staying in the Emergency Host Home, students are placed with a host family and supported as they complete high school. All the services are at no cost to the students. After the completion of the project in 2019, the Emergency Home now provides immediate housing to a total of 5 youth at a time, and with an approximate stay of up to 1-month is equipped to assist up to 60 youth annually.