What We Do
Homes for Youth are serving youth ages 18-25 that are considered homeless. Our goal is to partner with a variety of organizations and churches in an effort to support and mentor youth in our area and provide them the tools to be successful. Who We Serve
Homes for Youth serves low-income youth ages 18-25 that are considered homeless. All youth served by H4Y come by referral through a v
ariety of local agencies and organizations. H4Y’s current goal is to walk alongside members for an average of two years each. Homes For Youth Model
Homes for Youth utilizes a 3-pronged model that aims to help young men and women become self-reliant and transition into the successful lives. Transitional Housing
JCHA provides a transitional housing unit to each of its members for an average of two years. Each member focuses on career development as he/she works toward self-reliance. As such, members must be in school and/or working full-time within six months of entering the program.
2. Team Mentoring
A team of 6 to 12 mentors, from local churches or organizations, walks alongside each participating member. The mentor team provides emotional and spiritual support along with practical guidance. The mentors range in age and life experience, allowing for a broad spectrum of support and enhancing the effectiveness and benefits of the team. The team approach decreases the demands on any one person (which can lead to burnout) while also decreasing the likelihood of an unhealthy dependence within a mentoring relationship. The team concept also allows for individual mentors to focus their energy on specific members of the family.
3. Case Management
H4Y’s Case Managers assists with coordination and planning related to a member’s vision for their future. A contract outlining the basic limitations and expectations of the H4Y program is signed by each participating member. The Case Manager develops an individualized service agreement with the participating member which identifies goals and action steps for areas including education, employment, financial literacy, life skills, personal growth, parenting, child health, etc. Additionally, on an as-needed basis, H4Y partners with community resources for job training, counseling, life skills, physical fitness, and other services. What Makes Homes For Youth Program Distinct? H4Y’s program is holistic, addressing the physical, emotional, relational, and spiritual needs of the participating member. A mentoring team – representing diversity in gender, marital status, family size, age and ethnicity – is assigned to each member to create a comprehensive support network for each of the members in the program. H4Y has the ability to specialize program components, including life skills education, around the specific needs of each member. H4Y requires a high degree of participation from their members in the development of their service planning covenant. Partnerships
The purpose of Homes for Youth is accomplished by providing supportive transitional housing and team mentoring in a safe learning environment. H4Y has a growing network of dedicated partners in the Tri-Cities community that contribute through financial support, spiritual support and guidance, technical assistance, in-kind donations and volunteering. Among those partners are Department of Social Services, East Tennessee State University-Social Work Dept., Frontier Health, Holston Homes, Johnson City Housing Authority, Johnson City School’s Homeless Liaison, Kingsport City School’s Homeless Liaison, and Youth Villages.
