Homeless Housing and Prevention Program for Youth
Program Description: The Pala Housing Resource Center has created a program focusing on youth ages 12-24 who are homeless, at-risk of homelessness and to prevent homelessness.
Focus: This is a community-based project to include all interested youth. Native American Communities Tribal Housing Departments are expanding to offer more services in Indian Country. It is not just housing anymore, it is hope, healing, heathy homes and investing in our youth. Our goal is to engage and focus on youth to prepare and assist with becoming adults and avoid being homeless. Our target is all youth within our community; Tribal Member, Descendants and community youth members. Our project and activities will not focus on these classifications, rather to bring together all the youth that would like to participate.
Background: Native American youth have a high rate of failing in school, addiction, suicide, homelessness and mental illness. Youth often have time on their hands and get bored which leads to experimenting in activities that will lead them down the wrong path. They may be affected by peer pressure, being lonely and depressed. Often, just being in a place that offers positive reinforcement and influence will impact their life. A participation survey will be available and will be confidential so that this program is developed and designed by the youth with their specific needs. Participants will be split up in appropriate age groups. Our intent is to invest in the youth so they can invest in themselves.
- Life Skills Classes; self-worth, self-confidence job readiness and preparing resumes to become responsible adults, work ethics
- Financial Classes, budgets, taxes, spending habits
- Cultural Resources with mentors
- Drug intervention
- Peer pressure
- Suicide awareness and prevention
- Bullying and conflict resolution
- Domestic violence
- Preparing and sharing meals to bring community together
- Develop a youth crisis prevention hotline for any crisis or just to talk about issues
- Gun violence
- Trade Classes – based on youth recommendation
- Talking Circles, Storytelling, integrating other local tribes
- Quarterly events where meals, materials and necessities will be provided
- Identify at-risk youth
- Capturing youth and teaching them to be a positive mentor and influence
- Assistance with finding a rental
- Case-management (for other youth services)
- Care packages for hygiene or other needed items
Preparing to be a renter and homeownership