Jackson Street Youth Shelter Inc

JACKSON STREET YOUTH SERVICES IS HERE TO PROMOTE SAFETY, STABILITY, AND WELL-BEING FOR YOUTH. WE WORK TO PREVENT HOMELESSNESS BY SHOWING A PATH TO LONG-TERM SUCCESS THROUGH BUILDING POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS AND SKILLS FOR SELF-SUFFICIENCY.

EMERGENCY/TRANSITIONAL SHELTER FOR MINORS: JACKSON STREET OPERATES TWO OVERNIGHT SHELTERS FOR YOUTH AGES 10 TO 17. CORVALLIS HOUSE OPENED IN 2001 AND HAS 12 BEDS. ALBANY HOUSE OPENED IN 2015, AND HAS 10 BEDS. DURING FY 20-21, 70 YOUTH STAYED AT CORVALLIS HOUSE AND/OR ALBANY HOUSE, FOR A TOTAL OF 2,563 NIGHTS. MOST OF THE YOUTH WE SERVE NEED A PLACE TO STAY FOR LESS THAN TWO WEEKS. SHELTERS OFFER A HOME-LIKE ENVIRONMENT, FAMILY-STYLE MEALS, HELP WITH TRANSPORTATION TO SCHOOL AND APPOINTMENTS, TUTORING, AND A VARIETY OF EDUCATIONAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. FAMILY MEDIATION, REFERRALS FOR COUNSELING OR MEDICAL CARE, CLOTHING AND PERSONAL ITEMS ARE PROVIDED AS NEEDED. MOST YOUTH ARE ABLE TO REUNITE WITH THEIR FAMILIES WITH A NEW FEELING OF HOPE AND A NEW KNOWLEDGE OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES TO HELP THEM SUCCEED LONG-TERM. HOWEVER, SOME YOUTH DO NOT HAVE A STABLE HOME TO RETURN TO. OUR GOAL IS TO ALLOW THESE YOUTH TO STAY AS LONG AS THEY NEED TO, AND TO HELP THEM LOCATE A NEW, HEALTHY, PERMANENT LIVING SITUATION. A CASE MANAGER WORKS WITH EACH OF THESE YOUTH TO CREATE AN INDIVIDUAL PLAN FOR STABLE HOUSING AND TO HELP THEM LEARN THE SKILLS THEY WILL NEED AS THEY TRANSITION TO LIVING INDEPENDENTLY. AFTER LEAVING THE SHELTER, ALL YOUTH ARE CONTACTED PERIODICALLY BY OUR AFTERCARE CASE MANAGER TO KEEP THEM CONNECTED TO ANY ON-GOING SERVICES THEY MIGHT NEED.

OUTREACH SERVICES FOR YOUTH & YOUNG ADULTS, AGES 10 TO 24: MANY OF OUR OUTREACH SERVICES ARE INTENDED TO PREVENT YOUTH FROM BECOMING HOMELESS OR RUNNING AWAY. FOR YOUTH ALREADY ON THE STREETS, OR THOSE WHO ARE "COUCH-SURFING" (NOT ON THE STREETS BUT WITHOUT LONG-TERM STABLE HOUSING), WE WORK TO INCREASE THEIR SAFETY BY PROVIDING BASIC NEEDS, CASE MANAGEMENT, REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY SERVICES, AND MORE. WE STRIVE TO HELP THESE YOUTH FIND A PATH TO SAFE HOUSING, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, AND SKILL-BUILDING FOR FUTURE SUCCESS. LAST YEAR 128 YOUTH THROUGHOUT LINN, BENTON, AND LINCOLN COUNTIES ACCESSED ONE OR MORE OF OUR OUTREACH SERVICES; THERE WERE MORE THAN 2,000 CONTACTS BETWEEN THESE YOUTH AND OUR OUTREACH STAFF. ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE FOR TEENS AND ALSO FOR YOUNG ADULTS (UP TO AGE 24) WHO ARE TOO OLD TO STAY IN OUR STATE-LICENSED SHELTERS BUT STILL NEED HELP AND GUIDANCE AS THEY WORK TO ACHIEVE ADULT INDEPENDENCE. OUTREACH CLIENTS HAVE ACCESS TO TUTORING, MENTORING, PEER-SUPPORT GROUPS, AND CASE MANAGEMENT. OTHER OUTREACH SERVICES INCLUDE: A 24-HOUR HELP LINE; COVID-19 INFORMATION AND PROTECTIVE SUPPLIES (HAND-SANITIZER, MASKS, ETC.); AND RECREATIONAL AND SERVICE-LEARNING ACTIVITIES USING THE POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT MODEL.

"NEXT STEPS" TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FOR YOUNG ADULTS: THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES HOUSING FOR YOUNG ADULTS AGES 18 TO 24 WHO WOULD OTHERWISE BE HOMELESS. ONCE THEY TURN 18, YOUNG PEOPLE ARE LEGALLY CLASSED AS ADULTS, BUT MANY 18-YEAR-OLDS ARE STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL, AND FEW ARE ABLE TO BE COMPLETELY SELF-SUPPORTING. THIS AGE GROUP IS STILL DEVELOPING AND NEEDS SUPPORT TO TRANSITION INTO ADULTHOOD. THE YOUTH WE SERVE IN OUR NEXT STEPS PROGRAM (MOST OF WHOM ARE UNDER 21) HAVE LITTLE OR NO SUPPORT FROM PARENTS OR OTHER FAMILY. WE PROVIDE SECURE HOUSING WHILE THEY COMPLETE SECONDARY SCHOOL OR OBTAIN A GED, AND BEGIN (OR PREPARE FOR) HIGHER EDUCATION, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, OR EMPLOYMENT. OUR NEXT STEPS PROGRAM OFFERS PARTICIPANTS A ROOM OF THEIR OWN IN A HOUSE SHARED WITH OTHERS IN THE PROGRAM, WITH DAILY OVERSIGHT FROM JACKSON STREET STAFF. WE ALSO PROVIDE: FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR EDUCATION, COUNSELING, HEALTH CARE, AND TRANSPORTATION; CASE MANAGEMENT EMPHASIZING THE SKILLS, RESOURCES, AND COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS NEEDED TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY; SKILLS TRAINING ON TOPICS SUCH AS RELATIONSHIPS, HEALTH/FITNESS, COMMUNICATION, BUDGETING/SAVINGS, DRUGS AND ALCOHOL, AND MEAL PLANNING; AND COACHING TO HELP FIND AND MAINTAIN QUALITY EMPLOYMENT. LAST YEAR 18 YOUTH STAYED AT OUR "NEXT STEPS" HOUSES, FOR A TOTAL OF 3,110 NIGHTS.