Lighthouse Chosen for Inaugural Initiative to Prevent Youth Homelessness
CINCINNATI (October 24, 2023) – Lighthouse Youth & Family Services (Lighthouse) is among the first in the country to receive a federal Runaway and Homeless Youth-Prevention Demonstration Program award. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Family and Youth Services Bureau chose Lighthouse as a grant recipient, one of only 11 organizations nationwide.
The goal of the Prevention Demonstration Program (PDP) is to implement and evaluate interventions and services that prevent youth from becoming homeless in the first place. Lighthouse will help build a stronger community by developing a road map to prevent youth homelessness.
The PDP agreement consists of three consecutive 12-month budget periods. Lighthouse receives $350,000 in the first year. It will receive $350,000 awards for the second and third years of the project following a review of progress and approval. The expected total award is $1,050,000.
In 2022, 33% of Cincinnati’s homeless population was under the age of 25.
“Over the next three years, Lighthouse will coordinate and collaborate with other youth and young adult service providers, community organizations, and private and public agencies to create a safety net for youth at risk of experiencing homelessness,” said Bonita Campbell, vice president and COO of Lighthouse Youth & Family Services. “We’ll also work closely with the Lighthouse Youth Advisory Council, a group of young people with past or present experience with child welfare or homelessness, in the planning and implementation of the project.”
The RHY-PDP has three parts:
- Identify young people under the age of 22 at risk of experiencing homelessness.
- Design and develop a comprehensive community-based prevention plan.
- Implement holistic prevention services tailored to respond to the diverse and unique needs of youth who are at risk of homelessness.
“Lighthouse has a long history of effectively working with homeless youth and is ready to use our expertise and experience to improve the accessibility, delivery, and quality of prevention services,” said Paul Haffner, president and CEO of Lighthouse Youth & Family Services. “We know the first step is to help a young person feel safe. Lighthouse provides secure and inclusive spaces for all young people, including youth of color, youth who identify as LGBTQ+, and others who are overrepresented and disproportionately impacted by homelessness. Every young person deserves the chance to thrive.”
Click here to see the federal press release about the grant awards.