Allentown, PA (9/22/16) – Valley Youth House (VYH) is pleased to announce that it has received a $10,000 grant from the Santander Bank Charitable Contributions Program to benefit the Supportive Housing for Homeless Families Program. The Program provides young, homeless families with rental assistance, case management, and support services so that they can achieve stable housing and independence.
To ensure positive outcomes and long term success, each family works with Program staff to develop and pursue an individual goal plan, which outlines their needs in four main areas: housing, education, employment, and life skills development. Clients receive maximum assistance and support as appropriate to achieve stability when they start the program. As clients progress, improving their life functioning and increasing their ability to live independently, services are tapered off until, ultimately, families are prepared to function independently. At the conclusion of services, clients take on full financial responsibility for their own housing.
“When our families transition out of homelessness, they lack the possessions and funds to quickly establish a home for themselves and focus on pursuing their goal plan” said Michele Albright, Supportive Housing Program Supervisor. “The grant from Santander will allow families to buy essential household goods, furniture, work clothes, and other items that will remove barriers in their progress toward independence.”
“By investing in the Supportive Housing and Families Program, we can help Valley Youth House make a meaningful difference for those who are working to improve their lives,” said Gwen Robinson, Managing Director of Community Development at Santander. “We applaud Valley Youth House for providing young families with the essential resources they need to build a solid foundation where they can move from dependency to self-sufficiency.”
From August 2015 to July 2016, Supportive Housing for Families housed 20 families (21 adults and 42 children). Eighty-two percent of the families completing services last year successfully transitioned to stable housing.
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.
For more information, please contact:
- Emily Conners, Valley Youth House Development Officer
For more information on Santander Bank, please visit www.santanderbank.com.
Information Provided By:
Emily Conners, Valley Youth House Development Officer
