FSRI Awarded $600,000 Federal Grant To Fund Temporary Shelter Program For Homeless and Runaway Youth

The Emergency Youth Center will be the first program of its kind in Rhode Island.

According to the National Runaway Safeline, between 1.6 million and 2.8 million youth run away each year nationwide. In Rhode Island, the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey indicated that 1,535 high school students in the state reported sleeping away from their homes because of circumstances that include being kicked out, running away, or being abandoned by a caregiver.

“The Emergency Youth Center is a Basic Center Program, which will deliver options for homeless and runaway youth in Rhode Island, who have previously had no option but to turn to DCYF or find shelter themselves when faced with difficult circumstances,” said Ben Weiner, Vice President of Administration, who oversees the Home Department with Family Service of Rhode Island. “FSRI’s Emergency Youth Center will offer emergency shelter and will help youth figure out their next best plan as they move towards permanent housing and achieving their goals.”

FSRI will connect to homeless and runaway youth through a targeted outreach plan, including youth input and strategic community partnerships, where previously DCYF had provided the only path to accessing shelter for this vulnerable population. When homeless and runaway youth are identified, FSRI will connect them to services, and screen them for fit with the host home model, as well as for any other needs they may have. Once the youth has been matched with a host home, they will also be offered additional services via a Youth Advisor, including trauma-informed counseling, referrals, and connections to educational and vocational supports. FSRI is pleased to offer an alternative to youth who find themselves in difficult circumstances. We want the youth in our community to know that there is a place they can turn to now, thanks to this funding, that will listen to them, partner with them, and help them move on to the next step.

This program is supported by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) of the United States (U.S.) Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $600,000, with 91% funded by ACF/HHS and $0 funded by non-government source(s). The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, ACF/HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit the ACF website, Administrative, and National Policy Requirements.