Youth homelessness is an invisible problem in our community. 3,000 youth experience homelessness in Franklin County each year. Yet, most of our central Ohio neighbors have no idea that there are young people sleeping unsafely outside night after night. Or that they’re running away from homes where they do not feel safe.
Addressing an unseen problem requires us to shine a light on the issues we are preventing and ending for over 1,200 youth each year. We must also highlight the uncertainty these young people face: not knowing where they will sleep at night, whether they will feel safe, wondering if there will be three meals tomorrow.
All of this uncertainty is compounded by our current environment: legislation targeting LGBTQ+ youth, an affordable housing crisis that makes housing precarious, high costs of living that make basic needs hard to obtain, and Supreme Court decisions including the one allowing cities to criminalize sleeping outside.
Amidst it all, Huckleberry House stands as a steadfast presence in our community. We don’t just provide housing; we offer the support that young people can rely on when everything else in their lives feels unpredictable. By addressing these complexities one at a time, we empower young people to build the foundation for the lives they want and deserve.
It has been a privilege to serve our community as Executive Director of Huckleberry House for the past five years. As my time here winds down, I remain in awe of my coworkers. They show up every day ready to help youth navigate uncertainty, never giving up on the young people they serve. I am thankful for our friends and donors who are part of the circle of support that surrounds the youth in our care. I am excited about what comes next for Huckleberry House – stay tuned because there are great things ahead!
If you have already made an end-of-year gift to Huckleberry House, thank you. If you have not, I invite you to help us provide the certainty all youth need by making a generous gift today.
Thank you,
Sonya Thesing | Executive Director
