How Youth-Led, Wraparound Support Is Helping Homeless Young People Build Independent Futures
MY House, a shelter for homeless youth in Wasilla, Alaska, has seen great outcomes for its residents thanks to its comprehensive programming and focus on the unique needs of homeless youth in the area.
Since its founding in 2010, MY House has helped hundreds of homeless youth achieve independent futures by connecting them with caring mentorship, job training, and life skills, as well as a safe place to stay.
Youth Empowerment
MY House offers many different supportive services depending on the individual goals of each client. Working with each person to determine where they’re at, where they want to go, what barriers are standing in the way, and how to overcome them is a key part of MY House’s magic. It’s a process that continues throughout a person’s entire relationship with the organization. Whether a person’s goal is to get a driver’s license, tackle treatment, apply for government benefit programs, secure a GED, or simply get their personal paperwork in order, staff at MY House are there to support each person in achieving their own goals.
The secret to the success of this method is that it’s entirely self-directed. Each client is free to choose the goals they want to work toward, rather than being prescribed a specific course of action or, worse, coerced to do certain things through the withholding of essential resources. This is a level of autonomy and self-determination that many youth and young adults are not yet accustomed to, and one that is too often stripped from even adults in traditional homeless shelter systems…