This summer, The Home proudly assumed ownership of Youth on Fire (YOF), a vital drop-in center dedicated to supporting unhoused and unaccompanied youth. Located in Cambridge, Mass., this welcoming day program provides a judgment-free environment where members can find safety, enjoy a homemade meal, access showers or a place to nap, receive referrals and work on their personal goals.
When Fenway Health announced it was eliminating YOF late last spring, State Representative Marjorie Decker, Senator Julian Cyr, the Department of Public Health and The Home quickly took action to preserve this critical resource that serves young people, ages 14 to 24, with nowhere else to go. The transition happened fast. The program closed for just five days, and a promising new partnership, based on shared values and a commitment to youth in our community, emerged.
“Youth on Fire provides young people a place to land where they are treated with dignity and respect,” says Program Director Mandy Lussier. “We help them get back on their feet, find stability, and receive the support that aligns with their unique journeys.” The needs of individuals run the spectrum, from basic necessities to aspirational aims. For one member, a successful day means grabbing a nourishing meal and a shower before work, for another, it’s having a full belly, a good nap and someone to talk to. Both are wins. Says Mandy, “There is no one measure of success.”
YOUTH VOICE: How They Use the Space, Why It Matters.
Loki: A Meal and a Chat
When Loki* came up north from down south, YOF was the first resource she found that provided help and referrals. “I was a foster kid,” she shares. “I became homeless on my 18th birthday.” Loki has been coming three times a week for years to feel safe, to feel calm and to share a hot meal. Like many who have experienced homelessness, Loki struggles with her mental health and the stigma against homeless youth—the “whispers, avoidance and scorn” add to her pain. Food helps, she says, and so do her talks with Mandy, who she has known for years. “I mostly come to eat and talk. Mandy listens and gives advice. Just having somebody listen—someone who cares—helps a lot,” says Loki.
Elizabeth: A Pre-Shift Shower and Meal
Elizabeth has been coming to YOF for two years. She was removed from an unsafe household and went to live with her grandmother, rather than foster care. That situation proved to be toxic, and when Elizabeth lost a job due to its strain on her mental health, she was kicked out. Elizabeth tried to conceal her homelessness, napping at the YMCA until she’d be asked to leave or on a couch at a new hospital where she found work. Though she is now in an overnight program, “YOF is my safe house,” she says. “I drop in for help with food and to shower and use the laundry and lockers before work.” Elizabeth is moving into her own apartment this month. “It’s a good lesson,” she says. “You really don’t know what people are going through.”
Karla: Food, Recovery and a Hangout Space
Karla, a young mom, became homeless after fleeing a traumatic living situation. She learned about the program in 2023, and she has been coming ever since. “This is the one safe space
I know I can go,” says Karla.
Although Karla works at a nursing home located several miles away, she utilizes YOF to nourish herself, recover from the ongoing stress of street life, and spend time with her best friend, Deedee. She is actively collaborating with her Case Manager to reduce her substance use and explore alternative coping mechanisms. Karla emphasizes the program’s significance in her life, stating, “Without it, I wouldn’t be here today. I was devastated when I heard they might close.”
Deedee: A Break from the Street
It was Karla who told Deedee about YOF and its resources, and Deedee has been coming ever since. Before coming to YOF, Deedee wasn’t getting enough sleep. Now, she can rest on the cozy couches, and she uses the lockers and clothing donations. She is careful about hygiene, she shares. “I usually come here to shower because I do sleep outside.”
Deedee has applied for jobs and permanent housing. She has money saved for an apartment, but credit is a barrier. YOF staff help with the application process, and her frustration. “I got out of a domestically abusive household. I haven’t done anything illegal to be where I am,” she explains. “And I have been trying to get off the streets. Not everyone has a supportive family. Not everybody can go home.”
