July 19, 2011
To whom it may concern,
I would like to share with you what I feel to be the most important points regarding the problem of unaccompanied, homeless youth in Massachusetts public high schools:
· 5,920 students are homeless, unaccompanied (without families) in Massachusetts High Schools according to DESE’s 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS);
· Youth choose between jobs to pay for housing (when they have it) and completing high school. They sleep in uninhabitable houses, under bridges, on park benches, or on couches of friends night to night. Many commute over an hour each day to get to their high schools despite their situations;
· Rediscovery’s YouthHarbors programs at Malden and Everett High Schools cost $2,500/year per student as opposed to $14,000/year for an adult shelter bed. Homeless, unaccompanied high school students are not prepared developmentally for the harsh realities of an adult homeless shelter;
· Of the unaccompanied homeless, high school students served by Rediscovery’s YouthHarbors program at Malden and Everett High School, 98% have never been involved with any state agency;
· Full-time students are not eligible for any housing assistance due to federal HUD guidelines unless they become pregnant, drop out of school or commit a crime;
· The lifetime cost to Massachusetts for each youth who does not graduate from high school is approximately $455,000 according to a study done by Northeastern University.
In summary, there are many state systems built to take care of youth with varying needs. No system currently exists to provide services for homeless, unaccompanied high school students. This is a population that is growing and these students are desperately trying to succeed against all odds. We should reward their efforts by providing them with the housing assistance and the support of a caring adult as they transition to become successful, contributing members of our society. Massachusetts is poised to be the national leader on this issue and this legislation will enable that to occur. I encourage your support and advocacy for this desperately needed legislation. Thank you.
Danielle Ferrier, MBA, LICSW
Executive Director of Rediscovery
Vice President of Justice Resource Institute
296 Newton St, Suite 150
Waltham, MA 02453
781-894-1222 x. 111
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
To whom it may concern,
I would like to share with you what I feel to be the most important points regarding the problem of unaccompanied, homeless youth in Massachusetts public high schools:
· 5,920 students are homeless, unaccompanied (without families) in Massachusetts High Schools according to DESE’s 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS);
· Youth choose between jobs to pay for housing (when they have it) and completing high school. They sleep in uninhabitable houses, under bridges, on park benches, or on couches of friends night to night. Many commute over an hour each day to get to their high schools despite their situations;
· Rediscovery’s YouthHarbors programs at Malden and Everett High Schools cost $2,500/year per student as opposed to $14,000/year for an adult shelter bed. Homeless, unaccompanied high school students are not prepared developmentally for the harsh realities of an adult homeless shelter;
· Of the unaccompanied homeless, high school students served by Rediscovery’s YouthHarbors program at Malden and Everett High School, 98% have never been involved with any state agency;
· Full-time students are not eligible for any housing assistance due to federal HUD guidelines unless they become pregnant, drop out of school or commit a crime;
· The lifetime cost to Massachusetts for each youth who does not graduate from high school is approximately $455,000 according to a study done by Northeastern University.
In summary, there are many state systems built to take care of youth with varying needs. No system currently exists to provide services for homeless, unaccompanied high school students. This is a population that is growing and these students are desperately trying to succeed against all odds. We should reward their efforts by providing them with the housing assistance and the support of a caring adult as they transition to become successful, contributing members of our society. Massachusetts is poised to be the national leader on this issue and this legislation will enable that to occur. I encourage your support and advocacy for this desperately needed legislation. Thank you.
Danielle Ferrier, MBA, LICSW
Executive Director of Rediscovery
Vice President of Justice Resource Institute
296 Newton St, Suite 150
Waltham, MA 02453
781-894-1222 x. 111
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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