Every night in America, there are thousands of youth experiencing homelessness – living in cars, vacant buildings, couch hopping with friends and families, or staying in places not meant for sleeping. They are often doing their best to go to work and school each day.
Currently, there are nearly 200 unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness in Frederick County Public Schools alone. Without safe and permanent housing and caring connections with adults, unaccompanied youth are at an even greater risk of finding themselves in unsafe situations.
The Thrive Housing Network provides housing to unaccompanied students experiencing homelessness through host homes and rapid rehousing.
What are host homes?
Short-term host homes are an intervention for youth who are currently experiencing homelessness for any variety of reasons.. The goal of short-term host homes is to provide a safe, temporary, welcoming space for up to six months where the young person can move towards self-sufficiency. Host homes are currently being used in numerous cities across the United States.
Thrive leverages existing resources to support youth, and the community of caring adults to help solve the crisis of youth homelessness in Frederick County. It is a community-driven model that connects young people aged 16-24 with adults from their own communities who are able to provide safe housing and support. Meanwhile the young person works directly with a SHIP Case Manager to figure out their next steps, planning to exit into permanent stable housing. Thrive staff work with the young person and hosts to make sure the process is supportive and stress-free.
Thrive recognizes the importance of youth having a safe, stable place to live in order to work on other elements of their life as they work towards self-sufficiency.
Are you able to host a young person?
THRIVE!’s process is pretty straightforward! Our team works with host families to make sure they are prepared to welcome a young person into their homes, and support them as they are housed. Throughout the match, THRIVE! also works with the youth guest to ensure they are comfortable and have what they need to thrive!
Check out our process below!
Apply to Host!
Being a host is a powerful and unique experience, and far from being easy. The commitment you are willing to make in order to be a host volunteer is an intense one, as is that of a youth who is moving into a host home. In turn, it will hopefully prove to be a gratifying and empowering experience for all involved.
The information provided will be held in the strictest of confidence, and will only be used by SHIP of Frederick County to determine your eligibility to become a volunteer host home with the network. The personal information collected will be stored for 30 days and is used solely for the purpose for which it was requested.
If you are interested and would like to learn more before applying, please email info@shipfrederick.com.
What is rapid rehousing?
Rapid rehousing provides students with assistance paying monthly rent costs. SHIP helps to identify affordable housing and works with landlords to begin a lease in the students name. Students in the program work directly with a case manager to plan toward self sufficiency. Over the course of a year, the portion of rent paid by SHIP decreases while the portion paid by the student increases. When a student exits the program, they have the capacity to renew their leas without SHIP’s support. Ultimately, Rapid Rehousing ends homelessness these students.
Are you a young person in need of housing?
Please contact info@shipfrederick.com.
To learn more, you can visit our FAQ’s.
Refer A Young Person
For more information, please contact info@shipfrederick.com.
We are thankful for our THRIVE! donors that fund this portion of our programming:
Ausherman Family Foundation
Frederick County Continuum of Care Collaborative
Housing and Urban Development
Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development