The Homeless Count Census for Louisville, Kentucky, provided by the Coalition for the Homeless, states that between October 1, 2015 and September 30, 2016, there were 443 homeless young adults ages 18 to 24. The same census states that there were 1079 youth under the age of 18 who were homeless during the time period. A partnership between University of Kentucky Extension (UK), Jefferson County Extension, and Louisville YMCA Safe Place, made possible by a Children, Youth, Families At-Risk (CYFAR) grant, is focusing on those homeless youth in Louisville. Through the grant, UK hired a “Life Skills Coordinator,” based in the Jefferson County Extension office and the YMCA Safe Place. This Life Skills Coordinator delivers life skills programming to homeless youth ages 12 to 23 in the YMCA Shelter House and Youth Development Center. The life skills programming uses a set curriculum from the University of Missouri called “Tackling the Tough Skills” and supplemented with “Skills to Pay the Bills” from the U.S. Department of Labor. During the same period as the census mentioned above, the YMCA Youth Development Center served young adults age 18 to 22 and the YMCA Safe Place Shelter House program served youth under the age of 18.

In the YMCA Shelter House, youth who are homeless, runaways, or otherwise in need of a temporary safe place to stay are taught life skills as a part of other classes offered by the Shelter House. The Life Skills Coordinator trained employees of the Shelter House to deliver life skills programming using the curricula above. Since 2017, 610 life skills lessons taught to more than 300 program participants resulted in:

• 24 youth gained employment,
• 15 gained housing,
• 8 enrolled in college,
• 17 currently enrolled in trade schools and currently working towards a GED
• 8 received mental health assistance,

Beyond life skills at the Safe Place, youth experienced a variety of field trips. Youth met with local legislators in Frankfort to learn how topics are brought before the General Assembly. They take field trips to local museums and attractions. United Parcel Service employees taught the youth how to build websites and apps and how to use social media safely.

 Primary community partners that have been involved in the grant have included YMCA Safe Place Services, Kentucky State University, Kentuckiana Works, Volunteers of America, Home of the Innocents, True UP (life skills program for children in foster care system), Scholar House, ArtReach, University of Louisville, YouthBuild, JobCorps, White Castle, UPS, Coalition for Supporting Youth Adults, Coalition for the Homeless, and more. Very strong relationships with partners have allowed the CYFAR coordinator to begin reaching significantly more youth during this reporting period. The CYFAR coordinator has worked with local coalitions to advocate for homeless and unstably housed youth and young adults. At community meetings, partners are interested and excited about the program and often refer youth to the program.

When asked, 100% of community businesses were willing to help in some way with the program. Collaborations have led to the utilization of numerous life skills for the youth at both grant sites. Solid collaborations now exist in the community and provide more options and opportunities for the participating youth. As the youth experience more options and opportunities they are more empowered to be able to make healthy decisions and feel like they have power over their decisions and their future.