Homeless Youth Connection (HYC) has received a $50,000 grant from Thunderbirds Charities. The funding will directly support the organization’s Empowering Youth For The Future (EYFTF) Program, a comprehensive social services initiative that provides homeless youth, ages 13 to 21, with the basic resources to stay in school, complete their education and plan for post-secondary success.
Statistically, more than 87 percent of homeless youth drop out of high school. These students are at a significantly higher risk of experiencing poverty, unemployment, chronic homelessness and poor health. One of HYC’s top preventative measures, the EYFTF Program, works to intervene before homeless youth drop out by providing assistance with academics, healthcare, housing, hygiene, employment and independent living to enable success.
“We are incredibly grateful to Thunderbirds Charities for their continued generosity and support of HYC youth. This funding will provide youth experiencing homelessness with the resources and the support to stay in school, graduate and create lasting solutions for a sustainable future,” said HYC Co-Chief Executive Officer Dawn Bogart.
Through the EYFTF program, each student is connected with an HYC Youth Coach to identify their strengths and goals and establish a personalized action plan to attain those goals. The comprehensive program allows Youth Coaches to connect with students weekly to discuss their progress. This approach helps students identify and achieve set goals that ultimately lead to high school graduation and self-sufficiency. Through this engagement, youth develop a sense of safety, structure, belonging, self-worth and social contribution.
The nonprofit currently serves more than 600 students in Maricopa County annually and has experienced tremendous growth in the past year: expanding to serve 13 school districts, including one in the City of Flagstaff, and partnering with 130 high schools to deliver case management resources, school supplies, clothing, hygiene products and more. The recent grant from Thunderbirds Charities will support the organization’s continued growth and ensure HYC has resources to help youth experiencing homelessness complete their education and have a chance at a strong and sustainable future. To learn more about HYC, and its mission, visit hycaz.org/.
This grant is part of the Spring 2022 cycle. View a list of all Recent Grantees.