DIAL/SELF Youth and Community Services Continuum of Housing Services

Agency History We are a community-based non-profit agency that has been serving the youth and communities of Western MA since 1977. We provide a wide array of services that foster youth empowerment and community service. Over the course of the last three decades, we have worked with more than 40,000 area youth in Franklin and Hampshire Counties and the North Quabbin Region. DIAL/SELF origin-based on a youth empowerment model and we embrace a PYD approach, which believes that all youth should be provided supports and opportunities to thrive, and include harm reduction and trauma-informed care practices in our work.

Continuum of Runaway/Homeless Youth Programs Outreach Services Drop-In/Resource Center Services Housing Services Although I am here to talk about our housing options, it is important to mention all of our services because all of them contribute to our ability to connect youth to housing. Depending on the program, we serve youth between the ages of 12-25 in different areas of Western Mass., but generally focused on the Franklin County/North Quabbin region and in the past few years we have moved into Hampshire County and partnering with BRHA to provide some services out in Berkshire County. Young people can get connected to us by talking to us on outreach, stopping by one of our Drop-In Centers, or calling us with the help of another provider or on their own. Although we appreciate that a warm hand off can help them get connected, we also like to have the young person engage as much as possible on their own, so we are sure it is their choice to connect with us. Our Runaway and Homeless Youth Programs are funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the MA Department of Public Health, the MA Department of Housing and Community Development, Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance, private foundations and charitable gifts.

Outreach Services Street Outreach School Outreach Event-Based Outreach Safe Place Outreach Services-We take calls/meet with youth, families, other community members and service providers and let them know about our services and other services available in the community to support youth and families in order to prevent youth homelessness. When we meet with youth, we work to build relationships with them, provide supplies, inform them of our services, assess their needs, and connect them with services. Street Outreach-We regularly walk the streets, connecting with youth at skate parks, community meal sites or on the streets of downtown Greenfield, Turners Falls, Orange, Northampton and Amherst. School Outreach-We provide outreach on our programs in the schools through tabling, presenting in classrooms or assemblies, or partnering with schools during special events. Event-Based Outreach-We attend health fairs, Pride marches, open mic nights, any other events that may attract young people. Safe Place-We are a part of the National Safe Place Program, which engages community partners such as the hospital, convenient stores, 24 hour restaurants to serve as access points for our services. If a youth is feeling unsafe or in trouble, they can go to any site displaying the yellow and black, diamond shaped, Safe Place sign and request help. Safe Place site and the staff are trained to make them feel comfortable and contact our agency to respond.

Drop-In/Resource Center Services Locations Resources Available Case Management Counseling/Family Mediation We have multiple sites (Orange and Greenfield) that youth can drop in for recreational activities and assistance with their needs and we have regular hours at another youth drop-in center in Turners Falls. We mainly serve under 22 y.o. in these, but can support people 22-25 with getting connected to other services as well. When young people access our Drop-In Centers, they will be asked to complete a brief intake with basic demographic questions and the services they are seeking. If it’s the first time they are visiting, we also give then a quick tour so they are aware of all that they can access. Through these resource centers, youth can access laundry and shower facilities, food pantries, clothing, bus tickets, computers, and health supplies. Youth can also get involved with case management in which staff support youth with finding housing, employment, obtaining an id, obtaining health insurance, or any other need they may have. We also may support them by taking them to appointments to help them connect with other providers in the community. This involves working with a staff person to complete a full intake, so we can find out more about their needs and ways we can provide support. Case management meeting frequency is determined by the young person and staff, but is typically weekly and is focused on creating a goal plan and working toward the young person’s goals.

Housing Services Housing Subsidies Emergency Housing-Night Owl, Host Homes Transitional Living Program-The Step Program LGBT Housing First Program Teen Housing-Permanent Supportive Housing When a youth presents with a need for housing, we first talk with them about their options with family or other people in their community. We try to see if there is a way that we can support them going home or to another location if it is a positive, safe place for them. We may meet with the family to help them work out expectations or provide mediation, or we may decide to support the youth in their living situation with a housing subsidy that may make the difference in preventing them from becoming homeless. Story of young man in Deerfield We also have flexible funds to support young people with obtaining or maintaining their housing. This could be first/last/security or assistance with a car repair that allows them to get to work to have rent money. For those without options, we have a number of options which meet the varying needs of the youth we see. The Night Owl Warming Center is an overnight drop-in center with staffing. Youth utilizing the Night Owl are required to engage in more intensive case management and long-term housing planning. This is a short-term option and we try to work with them to quickly work out a longer-term plan. For under 22 y.o. Host Homes-We have the ability to place youth in established host homes if a family-like setting is the best option for a youth. We connect youth with the adult shelter if they seem like they could manage. This is not our first choice, but one of many options and one that can lead to other more positive independent living options. We work with them to regularly contact the shelter to secure a spot and continue to work with them while they are in the shelter. The Step Program (serves ages 17-21 in Turners Falls and Orange) is a comprehensive transitional living program that provides a rent-free shared apartment, 24/7 staff support, informal and formal life skills education, case management, a weekly living allowance stipend, and linkages to educational and social services and positive opportunities to be engaged in their schools and communities. LGBT Housing First Program is part of a program funded by the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance. This program is for youth ages 18-25 who identify as LGBTQ and is meant to serve the chronically homeless through the provision of housing first and then wraparound services. Teen Housing develops and manages supported affordable housing for young adults who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness. So far it has purchased and renovated an 8 unit building in Turners Falls for the Step Program, completed 10 efficiency apartments in Greenfield, another 10 units in Orange, and a 4 unit building in Northampton with plans for additional units there. Greenfield Teen Housing is made up of 10 Section 8 Project-based efficiency apartments, which provide subsidized supportive affordable housing for low income homeless young adults ages 18-25. If they follow all of their lease requirements (paying rent, maintaining the apartment, programming, community service, engaging in case management), they are placed on the top of the list for a mobile Section 8 voucher. Orange Teen Housing is made up of 8 Section 8 and 2 MRVP project-based units. The Franklin Regional Housing Authority owns the building, but we assist with placements in the building. Northampton Teen Housing is made up of 2 2-bedroom apartments and we have plans to build additional housing in an adjacent lot in the next year. Teen Housing is supported by private foundations (including BankNorth Foundation), the MA Department of Housing and Community Development, Boston Community Capital, Federal Home Loan Bank and gifts from local residents and businesses.

Questions? Lisa Goldsmith lgoldsmith@dialself.org 413-774-7054 x110