Case for Support

Take action to help end the cycle of youth homelessness

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StandUp For Kids logo

VisionWe strive to build communities where all youth know care, feel loved and have a support system to help them move quickly from surviving to thriving.

MissionTo end the cycle of youth homelessness.

DrivenAs a national non-profit organization, StandUp for Kids cares for homeless and at-risk youth by transitioning them from crisis to connection. We give our youth a sense of safety, hope, and belonging through housing support, mentoring, drop-in centers, and street outreach.

Headline: 4.2 Million
Headline: 4.2 Million
Homeless youth are on America's streets.
That’s a dangerous place to be.
Fact Within the first 48 hours
Headline: Facts we Can’t Ignore
Headline: Facts we Cant Ignore

These kids are our Nation’s invisible homeless population, undercounted for years, hiding out in cars and abandoned buildings, in motels and on couches, often trading sex for a place to sleep. We know that the number of teens and young adults living on the streets is only growing.

Every day America’s youth are exposed to:

Shocking statistics of America’s youth:

(between ages 10-18) will run away

(ages 18-25) and 1 in 30 adolescents (ages 13-17) experience some form of homelessness over the course of a year
experience an episode of homelessness for a week or longer
sleep on the streets for six months or more at a time
are under the age of 18, unsheltered; sleeping outside, in a car, a park, an empty building or have been in the juvenile justice system, or in jail

become victim to human trafficking- inclusive of sex and labor trafficking

It is unimaginable that there are kids right now, in our own communities, completely on their own without any support.

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Headline: Take a Stand with Us
Headline: Take a stand with us

Your contributions power our impact 

OUR 2022-2023 Goal

Headline: $5 Million
Headline: $5 Million
This funding and support means we can get closer to ending the cycle of youth homelessness by breaking the patterns that hold these kids back and help move them forward on new paths by…
Headline: A PROFILE OF HOMELESS YOUTH IN AMERICA
Headline: A Profile of homeless youth in America
What Does it Mean to be a Homeless Youth?

Defined as youth and young adults, ages 12 to 24, unaccompanied by a parent or guardian.

They often DO NOT fit the traditional idea of what ‘homelessness’ looks like, they:

  • Go to school
  • Have jobs
  • Participate in community activities
  • Enjoy social lives with friends who
    have safe, dependable places to sleep every night
Who is on the Streets?

Early Runners: Displaced from their homes due to severe conflict, abuse, or neglect and experiencing short-term homelessness.

Doubled-Up: Transition aged (18+), cannot return home, and require housing with life-skills training.

Older, Employed Homeless Youth: Highly mobile with access to part or full-time employment, but no access to affordable housing opportunities.

Street-Dependent Youth: Sleeping out of home for six months or more, in need of services to assist with education, employment, and reconnecting with family or social support networks.

Homeless Youth with Long-Term Disabilities: Experiencing cognitive or emotional challenges and requiring support into their adult years.

Why have they left home?
Family Instability, including child abuse and/or neglect, domestic violence, parental substance abuse, and conflict over sexual orientation or gender identity.

System Involvement, including the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. A young person leaves the foster care system anywhere between the ages of 18-21. For many, “aging out” is accompanied by instant homelessness because housing is tied to government support.

Residential Instability with one’s family and usually due to economic issues.

Extreme Disconnection from education, employment, health care, and the positive communities, social and support networks that could help them to change their circumstances.

Their Struggle Is our Challenge

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DEMOGRAPHIC DISPARITIES

Up to 40% identify as LGBTQ

Compared to non-LGBTQ youth:
62% report being physically harmed while homeless
120% more likely to experience homelessness

Black youth have an 83% higher risk of experiencing homelessness

Boy with tilted head

PHYSICAL/MENTAL ISSUES

Every day, 13 at-risk youth will die due to assault, illness, or suicide trying to survive on the streets – or 5,000/per year

75% more likely to self-medicate and abuse substances compared to housed youth

69% suffer from mental health problems

25% experience homelessness within a year of aging out of the foster care system

Boy looking at laptop

EDUCATIONAL HURDLES

Homeless students are 87% more likely to drop out of school altogether vs. housed students

Young adults with less than a GED were 4.5x more likely to report experiencing homelessness than their peers who completed high school

@StandUP Advocacy

We will always be here for these kids

Since 1990, StandUp for Kids has served unaccompanied homeless and at-risk youth – and young parents with children of their own – up to their 25th birthday. All of them have lived through trauma. Many have survived abuse. Often they’re just victims of immense neglect. When we first meet them, they are disconnected and uncertain about what steps to take next. Through our four core programs – Street Outreach, Outreach Centers, Mentoring, and Housing – we help move them quickly from crisis to connection.

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@StandUp Chapters

Headline: OUR DOORS ARE OPEN NATIONWIDE
Headline: Our Doors Are Open NationWide
Strengthening how many youth we can reach

Currently, we operate 16 chapters in cities and communities in 10 states and the Nation’s capital. Staffed mostly by volunteers, we work tirelessly to assess youth in need, connect them to resources and opportunities, help them develop plans and get them headed in new directions.

USA map with highlighted states

ARIZONATucson

COLORADODenver

GEORGIAAtlanta

ILLINOISChicago

MASSACHUSETTSWorcester

OHIOCleveland

VIRGINIAHampton Roads

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIAWashington, D.C.

@STANDUP Teams

Headline: 98% Volunteers. 100% Heart
Headline: 98% Volunteers. 100% Heart
PEOPLE, PASSION, PURPOSE & PURPLE!
Volunteer pictures

5,598 volunteers served 39,302 hours in 2021

Our most prized asset is our hundreds of volunteers nationwide.
Along with our core staff in our national office in Decatur, Georgia, they are at the heart of what we do. Many have been with us for 10 years or more. Some work behind the scenes as unsung heroes and others are out front, serving as counselors, mentors, or meeting kids on the streets.

And all of them wear their StandUp for Kids purple t-shirts with pride.

Headline: Everywhere you look, Standup for Kids is Making an Impact
Headline: Everywhere you look, Standup for Kids is Making an Impact
Throughout another challenging year, StandUp for Kids’ dedicated staff and volunteers pivoted to ensure we could continue to provide youth across America with what they need.
street and outreach center incidences of support
youth in maintained housing with ongoing social services
meals to those in need throughout our chapters
nights of emergency shelter

youth with mentoring and education support

new youth to our outreach network

Headline: We make every dollar count, And we count on every dollar
Headline: We make every dollar count, and we count on every dollar

Getting these kids from surviving to thriving just doesn’t happen. It takes time, a true commitment, heartfelt dedication, and unwavering support. We are grateful for our generous donors and sponsors.

Fiscal year 2021 revenue and expenses

Of every dollar donated, 81 cents goes directly into programs that serve youth facing and experiencing homelessness.

Dollar broken down by expense category
Headline: Empowering Our Youth to Thrive
Headline: Empowering Our Youth to Thrive

Sometimes the hardest thing a homeless youth will do is recognize they need help. Through four core programs available to local communities, we assess their needs, connect them to resources, and develop plans to get them out of often untenable or unjust situations and move them toward much greater stability.

Your contribution keeps these four core programs growing.
Your investment can make all the difference in how much our chapters can help and how many youth we can save from the streets.

Headline: Street Outreach
Headline: Street Outreach

REACHING YOUTH WHERE THEY ARE

Street Outreach counselors go directly to the streets to reach homeless kids. Volunteers walk known “hotspots” and other areas where youth congregate, to distribute food, clothing, hygiene products, resource information, and referrals. They make themselves accessible at consistent times each week to build relationships and connect homeless youth to services as well as trusted community resources.

IN 2021, WE ASSISTED 6,173 YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS DURING STREET OUTREACH.

volunteers images
Headline: Mentoring
Headline: Mentoring

INSPIRING YOUTH TO BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES

During sessions in school, after school, and in our Outreach Centers, mentors act as guides, role models, and accountability partners, helping youth to develop a goal plan and find ways to execute it. The goal of school-based mentoring is to increase high school graduation rates and foster a love for learning. Planning for self-sufficiency, we promote exploration of vocational training, college, entrepreneurship, and jobs.

IN 2021, MORE THAN 1,200 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN OUR SCHOOL-BASED MENTORING PROGRAMS.
STUDENTS MENTORED BY OUR ATLANTA CHAPTER HAVE GRADUATED AT RATES HIGHER THAN THE STATE AVERAGE.

volunteering images
Headline: Housing Support
Headline: Housing Support

FINDING A PLACE TO CALL HOME

Getting youth off the street is one thing; finding them safe and reliable housing is another. It may take several months. Once situated, it may take twice as long until they feel fully capable and comfortable taking care of themselves. Teams monitor each individual situation and help young renters build a life centered around community, with support including: locating an apartment, life skills training, counseling, referrals for medical and dental support, weekly food baskets, and housing stipends.

89% OF THE YOUTH WE HOUSED TRANSITION FROM CRISES TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY.

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Headline: Outreach Centers
Headline: Outreach Centers

HELPING YOUTH TO FIND THEIR WAY

Through educational programs, one-on-one counseling, and an ongoing atmosphere of hope and concern, Outreach Centers provide safe and protective environments for homeless and at-risk youth and connect them to vital resources and a support network of basic human needs and development. Assistance includes: vocational training, job referrals, securing birth certificates and Social Security cards, life skills, wellness activities, meals and snacks, shower and laundry facilities, and mail service. 

IN 2020, MORE THAN 5,200 YOUTH FOUND SAFETY AND CONNECTION IN OUR OUTREACH CENTERS.

Volunteer pictures
Headline: Be The Change

TOGETHER, WE CAN END THE CYCLE OF YOUTH HOMELESSNESS IN AMERICA.
Our youth are counting on us – and we are counting on you.

Volunteering pictures
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Your gift of support will go to work immediately providing meals, emergency housing, mentorship, education, and long term housing for homeless youth.

Headline: Take Action
Headline: Take Action
Become a Corporate partner
We’re always looking to build deep, multi-layered partnerships on a variety of different platforms. An employee matching gift program can add even more value.

Become a Foundation Partner
We welcome unrestricted support and funding for specific projects, working closely with you to realize your philanthropic goals and interests.

Donate Goods & Services
Many of our chapters accept in-kind donations: non-perishable food, clothing, hygiene products, first aid items, bus passes, gift cards, and office supplies.
Headline: Contact Us
Headline: Contact us

ERIN MURPHY
ErinM@StandUpForKids.org

National Office
National@StandUpForKids.org
1-800-365-4KID (1-800-365-4543)
200 Nelson Ferry Road, Suite B, Decatur, GA 30030

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