The Community Builder Moves Forward with Homeless Youth Housing Project
A community meeting will be held to on May 20th at Lake Ridge Elementary, 615 Burke Lane, Nampa, 1:00pm – 3:00pm – open to anyone who would like to attend
Nampa, ID, May 20, 2017 --(PR.com)-- The Community Builder, moves forward with youth transitional housing project in Nampa to provide safe and stable living for Nampa’s homeless youth.
The vacant building at 8444 Dearbourne Rd. formally Scism Elementary, a Nampa School district property will become the home of Idaho Youth Cares transitional living for unaccompanied youth age 16-17.
The Community Builder, Inc, a non-profit organization established in 2013, currently runs a resource center located in Nampa and serves the residents of the Treasure Valley by meeting basic needs as well as provide basic computer, digital and financial literacy classes, find jobs, secure housing and access services.
The challenging economy now is tough for those without homes, being homeless as a youth makes things even more difficult. While many cities engage in practices that exacerbate the problem of homelessness by pursuing criminalization measures, a more constructive approach is needed, said Dawn Barker, The Community Builder Executive Director.
There is a significant unmet need in Nampa as well as Idaho for supported housing for young adults. Currently, there is no overnight shelter or transitional housing for unaccompanied youth in Canyon County much less one that provides concurrent case management and supportive services.
In 2015-2016 the number of homeless students (pre-K-12) according to the Nampa School District was 1275 with total number of 1528; which included 185 unaccompanied. District poverty rate for 2014-2015 was 65.23%. Nampa has the highest number of homeless and unaccompanied youth in the State of Idaho. In 2013, 1,674 children were victims of abuse or neglect in Idaho, a rate of 3.9 per 1,000 children, representing a 14.7% increase from 2012. Of these children, 74.1% were neglected, 21.8% were physically abused, and 5.9% were sexually abused. In 2011, 79 children aged out of out-of-home care—exited foster care to emancipation—in Idaho. In 2013, 7,000 Idaho teens ages 16–19 were not enrolled in school and were not working. In 2013, 26,000 young adults ages 18–24 were not enrolled in school, were not working, and had no degree beyond high school. In 2013, 8,633 children younger than 18 were arrested in Idaho.
The majority do not have the ability or means access to affordable safe/stable housing; most have never lived independently and the need of support services is critical to help them transition to safe independent living.
The Community Builder formed a youth advisory council that brings a broad range of expertise and will continue working to identify best practices that will enable Idaho Youth Cares to offer comprehensive, results-oriented programs that provide safety and stability for youth who have previously experienced homelessness said Teresa Short, Exec. Program Director for The Community Builder
Idaho Youth Cares project is aimed to serve youth experiencing homelessness through housing, opportunities, prevention and education in a supportive environment to build the skills needed to achieve independence.
For more information about the project, a community meeting will be held to on May 20th at Lake Ridge Elementary, 615 Burke Lane, Nampa, 1:00pm – 3:00pm – open to anyone who would like to attend.
The vacant building at 8444 Dearbourne Rd. formally Scism Elementary, a Nampa School district property will become the home of Idaho Youth Cares transitional living for unaccompanied youth age 16-17.
The Community Builder, Inc, a non-profit organization established in 2013, currently runs a resource center located in Nampa and serves the residents of the Treasure Valley by meeting basic needs as well as provide basic computer, digital and financial literacy classes, find jobs, secure housing and access services.
The challenging economy now is tough for those without homes, being homeless as a youth makes things even more difficult. While many cities engage in practices that exacerbate the problem of homelessness by pursuing criminalization measures, a more constructive approach is needed, said Dawn Barker, The Community Builder Executive Director.
There is a significant unmet need in Nampa as well as Idaho for supported housing for young adults. Currently, there is no overnight shelter or transitional housing for unaccompanied youth in Canyon County much less one that provides concurrent case management and supportive services.
In 2015-2016 the number of homeless students (pre-K-12) according to the Nampa School District was 1275 with total number of 1528; which included 185 unaccompanied. District poverty rate for 2014-2015 was 65.23%. Nampa has the highest number of homeless and unaccompanied youth in the State of Idaho. In 2013, 1,674 children were victims of abuse or neglect in Idaho, a rate of 3.9 per 1,000 children, representing a 14.7% increase from 2012. Of these children, 74.1% were neglected, 21.8% were physically abused, and 5.9% were sexually abused. In 2011, 79 children aged out of out-of-home care—exited foster care to emancipation—in Idaho. In 2013, 7,000 Idaho teens ages 16–19 were not enrolled in school and were not working. In 2013, 26,000 young adults ages 18–24 were not enrolled in school, were not working, and had no degree beyond high school. In 2013, 8,633 children younger than 18 were arrested in Idaho.
The majority do not have the ability or means access to affordable safe/stable housing; most have never lived independently and the need of support services is critical to help them transition to safe independent living.
The Community Builder formed a youth advisory council that brings a broad range of expertise and will continue working to identify best practices that will enable Idaho Youth Cares to offer comprehensive, results-oriented programs that provide safety and stability for youth who have previously experienced homelessness said Teresa Short, Exec. Program Director for The Community Builder
Idaho Youth Cares project is aimed to serve youth experiencing homelessness through housing, opportunities, prevention and education in a supportive environment to build the skills needed to achieve independence.
For more information about the project, a community meeting will be held to on May 20th at Lake Ridge Elementary, 615 Burke Lane, Nampa, 1:00pm – 3:00pm – open to anyone who would like to attend.
Contact
The Community Builder
Dawn Barker
208-590-1084
www.thecommunitybuilder.org
Teresa Short, Exec. Program Director
Dawn Barker
208-590-1084
www.thecommunitybuilder.org
Teresa Short, Exec. Program Director
Contact
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