Why Host Homes?

Why Host Homes? Host home programs are a promising addition to the array of housing options available to youth. Broadly, host home programs partner with community members, or hosts, who provide housing for a young person in their home. Program staff supports both the host and the youth by helping to set up housing agreements, provide financial support, connect youth to other services, and mediating conflict.

One of the main benefits of the host home model is its relatively low cost compared to brick-and-mortar housing programs and the private rental market. Because youth stay in existing homes or apartments, the programs require no infrastructure investment. Housing programs that seek to place youth in private rented accommodations face the challenge of limited affordable housing options. Host homes can be geographically dispersed, and capacity can grow or shrink according to need. These factors also make the model well-suited to rural areas, which rarely have youth-centered homeless services despite having a similar rate of youth homelessness as cities and suburbs (Morton et al., 2018).

Fenix Youth Project Inc. is recruiting host homes for our 14-24 aged clients!

How does your state stack up on ending youth homelessness?

The State Index on Youth Homelessness evaluates all 50 states and the District of Columbia on their efforts to prevent and end youth homelessness. Today, True Colors United and the National Homelessness Law Center have released their annual update to the State Index, including:

• 2021 data on state efforts to end youth homelessness

• State-specific policy recommendations for improvement

• Resources for state advocates on the ground

• A new easy-to-use report website

The State Index provides a snapshot of some of the legal, systemic, and environmental barriers that youth experiencing homelessness face. The State Index assigns all 50 states and the District of Columbia a score of up to 100 and provides concrete steps that states can take to protect the safety, development, health, and dignity of youth experiencing homelessness.

See how your state scored at: youthstateindex.com 

From The Desk of Audi - Week 3 at FYP

Hello! 

This week has been more focused on finishing up some projects. I am making the final touches to my PowerPoint presentation to present to the HALS COC meeting next week. As well as the annual sleepout on November 17th and town hall that is in a few weeks. Things are slowly coming together.

For my new project I have been working on creating a rough draft for host applications and contracts. The Fenix Youth Project has the exciting news of getting approved for host housing!

I have also learned about new policies that have been implemented that could and will affect the homeless population overall. Maryland Police Accountability Act of 2021 - Police Discipline and Law Enforcement Programs and Procedures and Maryland House Bill 189. The Accountability Act prohibits a police officer from preventing a citizen from recording the officer's actions if the citizen is otherwise acting lawfully and safely. Also learned that HB 189 is a Pilot Program in the Division of Neighborhood Revitalization to provide funds to nonprofit organizations to establish or expand mobile laundry services for the homeless. 

I’m excited to learn more during my internship.