Valley Youth House Committee, Inc.
- Project Focus: Family
- Year of Award: 2020
- Grant Award: $9,700
Organization background and information
Valley Youth House (VYH)’s first program, an emergency shelter in Pennsylvania, opened in 1973 and was open day and night, ensuring that vulnerable, abused and homeless young people had access to shelter and counseling. The agency has since grown from that first shelter to supportive housing programs for over 600 young people and nearly 300 children across Pennsylvania while programming has expanded to include skills training, health, prevention, and intervention services. Each year Valley Youth House helps over 30,000 children youth and their families build resiliency and establish promising futures.
VYH House is a catalyst for youth to achieve their desired future through genuine relationships that support families, ensure safe places, and build community connections. The goal is that every young person has the skills and resources to be successful.
Summary of grant request/proposal
The project will provide critical support to young women in Delco ages 18-24 preparing to age out of care or experiencing homelessness through life skills development, education advancement, preparation for employment, and the development of permanency resources. Roughly 80% of the participants are parenting and accompanied by their child(ren). Project W underwriting will ensure that young women are prepared to live independently as productive members of their community, and to avoid generations of poverty and dependence on public assistance.
Why your committee chose this organization/grant request
The Family Committee members were engaged by the grant proposal and then impressed further by the site visit. The site visit team found VYH to be a supportive and safe learning program. The young women love this program because it is not a place for therapy that opens wound but a place of learning and building their resources. They learn about cooking, writing a resume, managing a budget and life skills in a safe environment. The youth stay with VYH in various programs and stay in contact with staff even after aging out of the program.
Link to organization’s website:
By Women, For Women 