From emergency housing to independent apartments, The Home’s young adult programs create futures free from homelessness.
Not long ago, for most youth in the Massachusetts and New Hampshire foster care system, turning 18 meant aging out of care—and out of support. A birthday became a deadline and, all too often, a path to homelessness. The Home’s Vice President of Community Services, Matthew McCall, LCSW, still tears up recalling how he and his colleagues would have to drive teens, who were raised by our society, to adult homeless shelters once they reached this milestone. They dropped them off, knowing that even the best-run shelters were no place for an 18-year-old, then had to drive away.
Today, they don’t have to.
NO LONGER LEFT BEHIND
Since that time, The Home has dramatically expanded its offerings for transition-aged youth—growing from 22 to 200 beds and from two to 12 programs, including two new ones this year. Our organization has replaced the heartbreaking handoffs with solutions that give young people access to the same opportunities as those with families—and lift them out of homelessness for good.
Our programs are as varied as the young people we serve; the spectrum ranges from emergency housing to independent apartments, and from three-month stays to multi-year support. The Home has a place for a young person who is in crisis and needs a bed tonight; for someone who needs 24/7 staffing and a reassuring face when nightmares strike; and for the young adult who simply needs a roof over their head, a kitchen and the time and space to put their goals into action.
INVESTING IN INDEPENDENCE
Every program equips young people with the life skills they need for adulthood, supports economic stability and mobility, and nurtures a sense of belonging. Instilling the belief that our young adults matter in the world—that they have a community—changes outcomes. So does our quality of care.
“It’s doing for them what they deserve,” says Matthew. “You give young people stable housing—the chance to take a deep breath and figure out what they want to do with their lives—and it’s amazing, even in a short time, how far they can go.”
IMPACT OF THE HOME’S YOUNG ADULT PROGRAMS
- 300+ young people served each year, across 12 programs
- 160+ units across Massachusetts and New Hampshire
- 85-90% of our youth leave with permanent housing—well above the 60-65% national average
- $15K-$25K/year: supports a young adult (3-4 years)
- $40K-$60K/year: supports an adult experiencing chronic homelessness (often 10 years)
