Community Uplift Program awards grant to Housing for Homeless Youth Program
Monroe County Opportunity Program recently received a $5,000 grant for its Housing for Homeless Youth Program. The grant was awarded by the Community Uplift Program, a group of local veterans and community leaders that helps veterans and nonprofit organizations.
“Our youth are the leaders of tomorrow. We want to provide them with a more stable environment and hone their skills through education, without the distraction of worrying every night if they have a roof over their head,” Sam Struth, director of CUP, said. “We want to take down those barriers for them so they can focus on their education.”
The Housing for Homeless Youth Program began in 2016 and assists Monroe County youths, ages 14 to 24. Since it began, the program has worked with 77 homeless and low-income youth.
The number of homeless young people is on the rise in the county.
"According to the McKinney-Vento homeless liaison, there were 417 homeless youth in Monroe County school districts at the end of last school year,” Stephanie Zorn Kasprzak, executive director of MCOP, said.
The Housing for Homeless Youth Program offers rental assistance, transportation to and from school and other needed services. The program was started to close gaps in support to the homeless population.
"Each school district has a McKinney-Vento homeless liaison within their system. They identify homeless youth and provide services that help them maintain their education. MCOP works directly with these liaisons to coordinate services, so their education and housing stay intact while they receive assistance from the program," Zorn Kasprzak said. "Beyond this, there really are no other resources, especially for those under 18. That is why we started the Housing for Homeless Youth Program, to meet this gap in service. Currently, the demand outweighs the funding available."
For those under age 18, the program also provides a mentor family.
“(These are) families who are willing to provide stable housing until graduation. This can be family members, friends or volunteer mentor families screened by MCOP,” Zorn Kasprzak said. “Mentor families provide a stable housing environment until graduation. This includes providing housing, food and other supplies necessary for student success.”
CUP's grant will allow MCOP to support the mentor families.
"We are grateful that CUP has chosen MCOP and the Housing for Homeless Youth Program for funding this year," Zorn Kasprzak said. "This wonderful donation will help us to support mentor families with a stipend that helps youth under the age of 18 maintain stable housing, and for those over the age of 18, it can provide rental assistance."
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The bulk of funding for the Housing for Homeless Youth Program comes from the United Way of Monroe/Lenawee Counties.
“The United Way has generously supported this program for many years with limited funds," Zorn Kasprzak said. "The dollars never stretch long enough for an entire year. Therefore, many generous businesses and donors step up to help us continue the program all year long."
Guy Howe, a CUP member as well as an MCOP Board Member, said everyone wanted to help once they heard about the program.
“Our entire membership was in awe that there’s such a need for youth. Hearing about the program made us enlightened to the fact that there are so many homeless youth in need, and that we could help in some way,” Mr. Howe said. “We’re more than happy to help this program that is helping our youth.”
CUP meets at 7 p.m. on the third Monday of each month at Monroe Post 1138, Veterans of Foreign Wars hall, 400 Jones Ave.
For more information about CUP, including how to become a member, either email Mr. Struth at communityupliftprogram@gmail.com or visit www.monroecup.com.
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: CUP awards grant to Housing for Homeless Youth Program
