WWW- “Standup for Kids” Non-profit fights Youth Homelessness

Here we are again on Wednesday highlighting a life-saving program and a truly caring individual that works for the non-profit called “Standup for Kids”. They help homeless youths with food, housing, mentoring and a welcome hug. There are several branches and probably one near you.

I recently met Donna Katsoudas in a Home Depot in my neighborhood, and as we chatted, I learned about her courageous spirit and warm heart for her fellow man. This is a gift especially now-a-days with so many at risk. I have a soft spot for this as my brother has been homeless for many years. I worry so much about him not knowing if the next phone call will be it ! I’ve tried to help him with hotels/ shelters and the “Get out of jail free card” a time or 2, but it ultimately is his decision. He is an alcoholic and struggles with this affliction. There is help out there and programs like this that can help those that WANT to be helped. Notice the end of this sentence.

Homelessness in the United States

Homeless youth are living on the streets in major cities, small towns, and in most suburbs in the United States. Some kids manage to stay in cheap hotels, parks, abandoned buildings, and other unsuitable or unstable locations for some periods of time. Many homeless kids are forced to make difficult choices just to survive. There are shelters in some cities, but most shelters do not offer any or enough beds for youth. It is a extremely dangerous situation for most.

Sobering Statistics

Here are some staggering numbers. 1.7 million U.S. youth experience homelessness every year. 50,000 youths sleep on the streets for six months or more each year. One in every five children between ages 10 and 18 will run away. Up to 40% of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ. Every day, 13 at-risk youth will die due to assault, illness, or suicide trying to survive on the streets –that’s almost 5,000 per year. About one-quarter of youth experience homelessness within a year of aging out of the foster care system. Compared to housed youth, homeless youth are 75% more likely to self-medicate and abuse substances to deal with trauma. I’ve seen this myself with my brother I mentioned above. It’s heartbreaking.

StandUp for Kids serves unaccompanied homeless and at-risk youth –and young parents with children of their own –up to their 25th birthday. Our mission is to end the cycle of youth homelessness. We do this in cities across America, one youth at a time. We strive to build communities where all youth know care, feel loved and have a support system to help them move quickly from surviving to thriving.

Street Outreach

Street Outreach counselors go on the streets and try to reach homeless kids. The single greatest need for homeless and street kids is continuous caring and real support. Volunteers in nearly every city we operate walk the streets in known “hotspots” and other areas where youth congregate, in order to distribute food, clothing, hygiene products, resource information, and referrals. Our volunteers make it a point to be accessible at consistent times each week in order to build relationships with homeless youth and help ensure they get connected to other programs we provide, as well as important community resources that we trust.

Outreach Centers

Several of our locations across the United States have brick-and-mortar spaces where youth can drop-in to rest, receive a hot meal, receive healthcare, meet with our volunteer counselors, and receive help with applications for housing, school, and/or citizenship. Some locations also accommodate shower and laundry facilities. The intent and purpose of our Outreach Centers are to provide safe and protective environments for homeless and at-risk youth. An Outreach Center helps provide the support network of basic human needs and development through educational programs, one-on-one counseling, and an ongoing atmosphere of hope and concern.

Mentoring

Youth are paired with mentors who meet with them on a weekly basis. During mentoring sessions, youth develop a goal plan and mentors help them prioritize and execute their plan. Mentors act as guides, role models, and accountability partners for these youth. We want these junior and senior high teens to understand that we truly believe in them, that they are capable and will be rewarded for their hard work and diligence in education.

Housing

Once we’re successful in helping kids get off the streets, the real test begins. If it takes nine months to get someone into housing, it may take twice that long working with them in an apartment environment before they feel fully capable and comfortable with taking care of themselves. Housing support teams will monitor their situations, and help young renters build a life centered around their community.

Sponsorship Summary

YOU can make a real difference in the lives of homeless and street kids by supporting StandUpand Move. Your support means that we can reach into the streets, alleys, and beaches and give young people hope…not the hope of one day or one month, but for a lifetime! Thank you for helping us keep that promise of hope. **All donations are tax deductible. https://www.standupforkids.org/move

Stand up and Move Fundraising Event:

StandUp and Move is our first annual National event to end the cycle of youth homelessness. You can run, walk, bike, or find your own way to move. Just choose a time, distance, and location to participate one time between Thursday October 8 and Monday October 12, 2020. If you tag us in a selfie and track your time, you may even receive a medal or other great prizes.

Your $45 registration fee and any additional fundraising toward this event will go directly to young people who need our help in cities across the country. You will receive a real bib, commemorative face mask, and sticker after registering. After the event, you will receive a commemorative t-shirt. Register or donate today! StandUp and Move is the first annual Walk/run/bike. StandUp For Kids | Helping homeless and street kidsstandupforkids.org **Click on “Where We Are”, and you will see the different locations you can support across the U.S.**

Worcester Area Stand up for Kids-

If you are a youth in need of services, please call 508-963-5576 or email: donnakat@standupforkids.org

Interview with Donna:

1) What prompted you to volunteer for this particular nonprofit?

When my boys were in high school and college, my husband and I were helping two of their friends who became homeless. I saw an article in the Telegram & Gazette about StandUp For Kids doing Street Outreach in Worcester when my youngest was getting ready to go to college.  I remember thinking this is perfect. I wanted to learn all about youth homelessness and do more.

2) Please share some stories about some of the people you’ve helped.

I refer to one youth as “the boy with the golden heart”.  He was 17, 18 in a couple of months, when we met him. His goal was to get back into high school.  Refusing to work with any program that had to call his parents.  He left a rough life and did not want family to find him.  The outreach counselors started the process of getting his ID documents.  He tried to enroll at the high school but was refused because he could not give an address.  We connected him with the McKinney Vento Person at the school, who let him know what he needed to do, and was able to start school at Junior level.  We did not have a center at that time and we would see him 2-3 times a week during Street Outreach. We would give him food, clothing and hygiene items. We would see him sharing his food with others.  He would get cash occasionally from some one and he would give half the money away to others he felt needed it more than he did.  He had been surviving by dumpster diving. He did not miss a day of school.  He was moved to an honors class. Before first snow he did go to a short term shelter, then moved in with a few college youths he knew.  We heard he planned to drop out of school at the end of Jr year and just get his GED so he could work.  StandUp for kids encouraged him to talk to his counselor at school and see how many credits he needed to graduate.  He only needed some English credits.  He was able to take the English classes at Quinsigamond CC and graduate early with a diploma.  He since then has taken college classes at QCC and has moved to Boston, was working as a computer tech and able to rent an apartment with a room mate.   Last I heard from him, he was applying to Boston College to study computers and enjoying life.

Marie left an abusive home life at the age of 15.  She soon had a baby with a boy friend and when he started treating her poorly, she left him, leaving her homeless with out a job or education.  The boyfriends mother was taking care of Marie’s son.  Marie could of stayed there, but the boyfriend moved back in with his mom and Marie was uncomfortable around him.  She was sleeping in a park till a lady who saw she was staying there, let her come sleep on her couch.  The lady had a room Marie could rent, if Marie could pay a minimal rent, then she could have her son with her. Marie would go walking and put in job applications, when she was frustrated with sleeping on a couch and not having her own place. She was out walking a found a bus pass on the ground. So she went to the bus station.  That is where she met StandUp For Kids Outreach team. She did not say she needed anything, but she was young, so one of the outreach counselors gave her a card with our contact number on it. She decided to call the number and started coming into the center.  She was 20 yo, with a 5 yo son.  She ate home cooked meals with the volunteers and few other youths.  We connected her with LUK, to help with housing and counseling.  Between LUK and StandUp For Kids, the minimal rent was paid.  She was able to have her son live with her, which made her much happier.  She made connections with the volunteers and some of the regular youths.  She shared a few times that it felt like family at the StandUp For Kids Outreach center.  She got a job and StandUp For Kids took her shopping at Savers to get a few outfits and a pair of shoes. StandUp was giving her bus passes to help with doctor appts, counseling appts and work.  She was there for Holiday dinners and The StandUp For Kids Christmas party, where she received gifts for her and her son.  Marie said, no one has done as much for her as StandUp For Kids did for her.  Her name came up for Subsidized Housing and was able to move in to her own 2 bedroom apartment with her son.   She trained as a youth outreach worker, and after turning 25 she became a StandUp For Kids Volunteer.  Currently she is working full time and paying full rent.  We do not see her much with her being busy as a mom of a 11 year old playing sports.

3) How do we get involved in volunteering and/or donating? Any Links ?

To volunteer: go to the www.standupforkids.org.  Click on “Volunteer”.  Fill out the form and click on “Worcester” for program wishing to volunteer at.  I will get the notice and contact you. Or you can send me an email letting me know you wish to volunteer with the program.  The volunteers have to be 16 or older.  To work directly with the youth, volunteers have to be at least 18. I do an Orientation with new volunteers on Zoom.  A background investigation is required. To donate or volunteer, email me at donnakat@standupforkids.org Or Worcester@standupforkids.org

4) How has this enriched your life ?

This program is great because it allows volunteers to give their time and hand out donations to help the youth move forward in their life.  It always feels good to give. The biggest reward for me is when we have not seen a youth in a while and on Street Outreach or at the center they show up and are so gracious to StandUp For Kids for helping them when they needed help. Sometimes it may be one contact with the youth.  We met one youth on Street Outreach, and was talking to him about what he was wanting to do, to move forward.  We told him about Job Corp and about 1 -2 year later we see him, he went to Job Corp and has a chef job.  Smiling cheek to cheek telling us how well he is doing. Another youth who we saw  struggling with addition, on the streets, in and out of treatment, he saw him and his girl friend twice a week for a whole summer before they both ended up in a treatment program.  We saw the young man for a few more years struggling with his addiction.  While we were gathering for Street Outreach one night, we heard “Hey StandUp For Kids, you helped me and my girl one summer”   He looked healthy, cleaned up and told us he finally stuck with a program, was doing well and just wanted to thank us for our support.  Those are feel good moments.  It does not happen every time we volunteer, or even once a week, or once a month. But that makes it all worth it.  

The ” Feel Good ” moments are what this life is truly about. How extraordinary are these volunteers that give freely of themselves to make others feel like they are home and worthy of love and respect. What a wonderful cause ! There are several locations and branches in the U.S. that provide all this and more for those in need. Please go to: http://www.standupforkids.org

If you feel the tug, Volunteer if you can, or if you have the means, please contribute to their charities to help those that may be right in your neighborhood. Who knows what lives you may change ? ! Thanks to all !