Homeless youth in Philadelphia will receive extra services thanks to a new city grant.
The $700,000 in funding, announced Tuesday, will allow the Office of Homeless Services to address the needs of those age 18-24, adding more beds, counseling services and employment for affected young people.
The Attic Youth Center, an organization dedicated to creating opportunities for LGBT youth and young adults, was one of five agencies — along with Covenant House PA, Pathways PA, Valley Youth House and Youth Service, Inc. — involved in the Coalition to End Youth Homelessness. The Office of Homeless Services formed the collaborative effort earlier this year.
While The Attic isn’t a housing provider, development director Alyssa Mutryn said the organization will work with the collaborating organizations to ensure youth receive the best care.
“We’re an LGBTQ youth center and we see a lot of homeless youth,” Mutryn said. “We hope to work in partnership with these organizations to know the LGBTQ youth in their care actually have housing and to refer our youth to them and they refer youth to us so we can work in partnership to get LGBTQ youth the best services if they’re homeless.”
Mutryn said The Attic’s efforts will specifically address educational services, via the center’s Bryson Institute, and mental-health counseling. According to a statement released by the city, an additional 40 LGBT youth will benefit from the services.
“When we heard this, I was incredibly excited because to be able to be involved in a collaborative process to address this issue is a big shift,” said Dr. Carrie Jacobs, executive director of The Attic. “To be able to be in partnership with these organizations as well as the city, I think this really promotes the work. It strengthens everybody.”
Jacobs said she is glad the city is addressing this issue.
“I’m very excited for the young people who will benefit from all of this work and the young people who are actually a part of this work,” she said.