Annual Report
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2015 ANNUAL REPORT Data Accurate January 1 - December 31, 2015 Dear Community Members, Thank you for your incredible support in 2015! This support allowed us to reach over 1,000 youth in Washington County and provide them with a sense of belonging, a safe place to master skills, opportunities to practice generosity, and avenues to find independence. Through the efforts of almost 1,000 volunteers and community partners, we have expanded our outreach teams and employment services. Unfortunately, due to a severe shortage of affordable housing in this area, the number of young people impacted by housing instability continues to grow. Last year 2,148 K-12 students were identified as homeless in Washington County alone. This represents an increase of almost 147 students from the year before, which is truly tragic. The need for our services is greater than ever. Last year marked a milestone for me personally as I have had the life changing privilege of becoming a mother. It has helped me realize, even more, how incredibly valuable HomePlate is for our community. It serves as a support system for young people that were not naturally surrounded by one. The one immeasurable outcome that matters most to us at HomePlate is that we exist to offer an opportunity for such courageous and resilient young people to connect in safety with others in our community who genuinely care, without judgment, fear of exploitation, or concern for expectation. It is in this offering of bonding, comfort and love, our basic emotional needs, paired with meeting other basic needs like food and clothing, that we have witnessed unending promise for not only our youth, but our volunteers, our staff, and our broader community. We have also been working with community partners, such as the Beaverton Arts Commission, and Hello Neighbor Project to provide more visibility of homelessness in our community. Look for the faces of our youth and volunteers on the walls of Beaverton buildings. Thank you for supporting HomePlate. In this report you’ll see how our 2015 was spent making an important difference in our community. And how our youth have taught us about resiliency, strength, and courage. I’ll leave it to one youth to describe what it means to him, “it’s a safe place just to be.” Together we can find ways to change the trajectory of the alarming statistics so homelessness does not have to be a lifelong challenge. Thank you dearly for your generous support. Sincerest gratitude, Bridget Calfee, Executive Director HomePlate Youth Services HomePlate is a 501c3 non-profit, charitable organization. Tax ID#: 26-1666325 ABOUT HOMEPLATE YOUTH SERVICES Mission Who? Youth, Ages 12-24 HomePlate supports the positive development of young people experiencing homelessness or housing instability What? Drop-in Centers, Street through community building, education, access to Outreach & Employment services and resources, and youth empowerment. Where? Washington County Vision HomePlate envisions communities where homelessness is a short-term circumstance, not a long term or chronic condition, and youth are supported in their communities. History HomePlate was started when a group of youth and adults noticed that there was not a place in Washington County for young people to gather and learn about resources. Those youth and adults worked together to make HomePlate—a place where youth and community members come together to build relationships, find connections, and meet basic needs such as food and safety. Overview of Services HomePlate operates three drop-in centers, Monday and Thursdays in Hillsboro and Wednesdays in Beaverton. Youth can access resources like: a hot meal, showers, hygiene supplies, clothes, food to-go, bus tickets, diapers and baby-wipes, resource and referral information. Best of all, youth can enjoy the community of staff, volunteers and other youth while enjoying movies, board games, arts and crafts, and dinner-table conversation. HomePlate Youth Services 2015 Annual Report 1 Oregon Unemployment Rates (2014) Did You Know? In 2014, a minimum wage worker in ➜ Unemployment Rate for Teens, Ages 16–19 12.7% Oregon earned an hourly wage of ➜ Unemployment Rate for Young Adults, Ages 20-24 28% $9.10. In order to afford a two bedroom apartment, a minimum wage earner ➜ Unemployment Rate for Overall Population 5.5% must work: Source: Oregon Employment Dept. US Bureau of Labor Statistics 72 hours / week 52 weeks / year THE NEED “ Homeless is a complex issue and can easily overwhelm our ability to provide for the emergent basic needs of people experiencing homelessness. The county’s 14,000 unit gap in affordable housing serving people in extremely low-income and low-income households is creating a barrier to family self-sufficiency. Together, HomePlate and a consortium of public and private partnerships continue to prioritize scarce resources and make policy recommendations to address the housing crisis and the root causes of homelessness in Washington County.” —Annette Evans, Homeless Program Coordinator, Washington County There are 2,148 ##/## homeless students in Banks ## Students Reported as Homeless in Washington County <7 Each Indicated School District of those 419 are ## of Whom are “Unaccompanied unaccompanied minors. Youth” Top 3 School Districts of Homeless Students in Oregon ➜ Beaverton SD: 1,380 Forest Grove Hillsboro ➜ Reynolds SD: 1,350 100/18 386/39 ➜ Portland SD: 1,325 Beaverton On top of these numbers, there 1,380/335 are many more youth who are Gaston Tigard/Tualatin disconnected from schools 48/8 (therefore not counted), who have 188/19 left or graduated school, or who are under the radar—who also Sherwood access support at HomePlate. 39 What is an “Unaccompanied Youth”? Youth or child attending school, but not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian. Unaccompanied youth and children include young people who have been thrown out of their homes, run away from home, and/or been abandoned by parents or guardians. 2 HomePlate Youth Services 2015 Annual Report OUR IMPACT = 1,034 Youth Served (1 icon = 50 people) These are total unduplicated individual people served through Ages 10-17: 460 Female: 330 African American: 169 Transgendered: 2 our drop-in or outreach services. = 8,971 Meals Served (1 icon = 50 meals) Meals includes outreach, drop-in, and leftovers. Hygiene & = 3,317 Hygiene Supplies other personal (1 icon = 50 hygiene items) items like blankets, backpacks, etc. For job interviews and = 1,434 Items of Clothing to stay protected from (1 icon = 50 articles of clothing) the elements. Rides for job hunting, interviews, safe trips to/from drop-in, and = 1,559 Trimet Passes (1 icon = 50 passes) doctor’s appointments. Help with creating a résumé, = 258 Pre-Job Guidance providing a job list, etc. (1 icon = 50 instances) Referrals to programs, help moving, = 175 Housing Resources housing application fees, etc. (1 icon = 50 instances) Assistance with FAFSA, homework help, school supplies, = 95 Education Support connecting with school district homeless liaisons, etc. (1 icon = 50 instances) Serving meals, organizing donations, = 996 Volunteers serving on the board or (1 icon = 50 people) committees, etc. = 8,153 Donated Hours (1 icon = 100 recorded hours) HomePlate Youth Services 2015 Annual Report 3 EMPOWERMENT & YOUTH EMPLOYMENT 2015 YEP Stats ➜ New Youth Receiving Employment Services: 60 ➜ Youth Employed through a YEP program: 19 ➜ Youth Who Have Received Jobs in the Community: 31 ➜ Pre-job Guidance: 258 YEP: HomePerk In partnership with Bethel Congregational United Church of Christ in Beaverton, HomePerk continues to develop into an advantageous employment experience for participating youth. HomePerk employs one youth each month to provide coffee and snacks for the church’s social hour. In 2016, HomePlate will seek to add an additional HomePerk location and youth employment opportunity. ➜ Youth Employed: 7 ➜ Pots of Coffee Made: 150 ➜ Donations collected: $2,156.35 ➜ Skills: Completing higher educational and job applications, interview coaching, résumé writing, preparing and serving food and beverage, public speaking. “ We see this partnership as equipping youth in our community to build job skills and work experience to get themselves into more stable living conditions. HomePerk is truly a ‘win-win’ for us. We get a much needed boost in an area that was difficult to staff with volunteers, and we help build skills and opportunities for youth.” – Rev. David Randall-Bodman, Senior Pastor, Bethel Congregational United Church of Christ YEP: Sit-n-Stay HomePlate’s Sit-n-Stay Program provides a supportive pathway to full-time, sustainable employment. Youth provide dog-sitting services for Beaverton Farmers Market customers, while also developing work readiness and transferable skills alongside supportive HomePlate Staff. “I learned patience, customer service skills and how to work with people.” –Sean, Previous Sit-n-Stay Youth ➜ Youth Employed: 7 ➜ Dog Visits: 198 ➜ Money Raised: $1,658.19 ($1,527.50 in fees and $130.69 in donations) ➜ Skills: Résumé writing, interviewing, customer service, cash transactions, basic dog care ➜ Major Partners: City of Beaverton, Beaverton Farmer’s Market and Beaverton Methodist Church 4 HomePlate Youth Services 2015 Annual Report “ Working with the youth has been awesome! I value the relationships I’ve built. We do our best to stay positive and have fun. Best part of my week.” —Rick Martin, Core Volunteer FINANCIAL BREAKDOWN Impact of Volunteers Donated In-kind Gifts ➜ Volunteers are a consistent presence at drop-in providing warm meals, Over 50% of HomePlate’s creating positive relationships, and connecting youth with resources. income received is non- ➜ With volunteer support, our street outreach team is able to split into teams to cover more ground and reach more youth. cash. This includes donated ➜ Volunteers manage in-kind donations so youth can easily find the space, time, meals, and resources they seek. supplies like hygiene kits, ➜ Volunteers make our special events possible—they support the planning process and are essential in staffing the events.