Photographed (left to right): Frank Caputo, Grants and Scholarships Manager, Scranton Area Community Foundation; Cathy Fitzpatrick, Director of Grants and Scholarships, Scranton Area Community Foundation; Nichole Rios, Associate Director NEPA IL Services, Valley Youth House; and Laura Ducceschi, President and CEO, Scranton Area Community Foundation

SCRANTON, PA (June 27, 2024) – Valley Youth House has received a $15,000 grant from the Scranton Area Community Foundation to support the agency’s Rapid Re-Housing program in Lackawanna County. This grant is part of the Foundation’s 2023 Spring Community Needs grant cycle. The funding received from this grant helps Valley Youth House toward their mission of being the catalyst for youth to achieve their desired future through genuine relationships that support families, ensure safe places, and build community connections.

Valley Youth House’s Rapid Re-Housing program in Lackawanna County assists single, pregnant, and/or parenting transition-age youth (18-24) who are experiencing homelessness. The following supportive services are provided to help clients live independently and break the cycle of poverty for themselves and their children:

• Rental assistance
• Weekly case management; hard and soft skills necessary for youth to find and maintain employment
• Assistance in applying for mainstream benefits
• Connections to community resources to sustain independence

“On behalf of Valley Youth House, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the Scranton Area Community Foundation for their generous $15,000 grant. This support is crucial for our Rapid Re-Housing program in Lackawanna County,” said Christina J. Schoemaker, Senior Vice President of Advancement at Valley Youth House. “Grants like these ensure we can continue connecting young people and their families with the stable housing they need to build a brighter future. We’re incredibly grateful for their partnership and commitment to our mission.”

Valley Youth House’s Rapid Re-Housing program is the only program of its kind in Lackawanna County that focuses on transition-age youth. Agency staff provide trauma-informed care and Positive Youth Development, which builds upon the strengths and resiliency of youth to support learning skills, discovering abilities and interests, and developing mutually beneficial adult-youth relationships. In the past year, the Rapid Re-Housing program served 25 youth and their children in Lackawanna County.

About the Scranton Area Community Foundation

The Scranton Area Community Foundation is on a mission to enhance the quality of life for all people in Northeastern Pennsylvania through the development of organized philanthropy. With over $90 million in assets under management and more than 330 charitable funds, the Scranton Area Community Foundation has served as a steward, grant maker, charitable resource, and catalyst for change since 1954. The Foundation leads various initiatives including Women in Philanthropy, the Center for Community Leadership and Nonprofit Excellence, NEPA Moves, NEPA Thrives, and the NEPA Animal Welfare Collaborative. Additionally, the Foundation hosts and facilitates NEPA Gives and the NEPA Learning Conference. The Scranton Area Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, tax-exempt organization confirmed in compliance with National Standards of U.S. Community Foundations. More information about the Scranton Area Community Foundation can be found at www.safdn.org.

About Valley Youth House

Valley Youth House (valleyyouthhouse.org) does more than just provide homes for Pennsylvania’s vulnerable, abused, and homeless youth. We partner with thousands of individuals each year to build a solid foundation for young people and their families. With dedicated street outreach, housing, counseling, skills training, health, prevention, and intervention services, we empower resilient young people in establishing promising futures.

 

Information provided to TVL by:
Sarah Pammer