Youth Focus

About Youth Focus

Youth Focus is a Greensboro, North Carolina, nonprofit program that helps at-risk youth find safety, stability and shelter. These housing services include trauma informed outpatient counseling, which can help address behavioral health and addiction concerns. They've merged additional SUD and mental health services with the Alexander Youth Network.

Their housing programs serve different groups in different age brackets, but in general they serve teens and young adults 11 to 21 years old who are runaways, homeless or facing other crises. Youth Focus is noted for its LGBTQIA allyship and welcomes people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

More Than Shelter

I want to draw attention to the HEARTH Beyond transitional living program. This program helps individuals who are experiencing homelessness by getting them into rental housing (allowing the client to put the lease in their name) and providing financial assistance to cover rent. During this time, clients receive skills training and support designed to aid them in achieving their personal goals.

What I find so fascinating about this program is that once the resident is in a stable place and demonstrates they can support themselves they can take over the rent and stay in the home. This is a feature not always seen in placement programs. From my perspective, it adds more stability and removes the worry of "where will I go next?"

There's also a HEARTH program for non homeless individuals. This program rents out dormitory style living spaces instead but offers the same kind of support.

Addressing Emergencies

Act Together is the name of this location's emergency shelter in place for those experiencing any kind of crisis. It provides a maximum 21-day stay, and during that time you'll receive a range of medical support services including psychological and behavioral health help.

This is a home-like setting, so you may find it more comfortable than usual drop-in shelters. They also focus on group activities and encourage socialization with others in the program, so it may feel closer to a residential program than what you'd expect.

Building Safe Places

The Safe Place program allows accessible locations throughout the community (such as fire departments and schools) to designate themselves as Safe Places. Teens and youths can enter one of these Safe Spaces and be connected with a staff member to help with their crisis.

If you're experiencing an addiction or mental health crisis, this program could get the ball rolling on finding treatment. The counselors will work in your best interest and work with you to determine the best step forward.