NONPROFITS
With winter upon us, the challenges associated with homelessness become exacerbated and life threatening for many. Cold, wet weather presents a next-level problem for many who have few options for housing, including an increasing number of young people.
Youth homelessness is a rapidly growing concern in New Hampshire, where an estimated 15,000 young people will experience some form of homelessness this year. At least 70 percent of these people will not have the option to return to a safe and stable home.
Many will couch-surf and fly under the radar, underestimating the true magnitude of the problem. Many others will sleep in cars, tents and endure the extremes of homelessness such as living on the streets where they will be in grave danger of being victimized or exploited. The longer they are there, the greater the negative impact on their life — present and future.
Last fall, Waypoint marked the one-year anniversary of opening Waypoint’s Emergency Shelter in Manchester dedicated to serving young people, aged 18-24, experiencing homelessness. This shelter, and our youth drop-in centers in Concord and Rochester, help these individuals in many practical ways by providing food, clothing and shelter, serving as a place to take a shower, do laundry or access a phone or a computer.
Waypoint also provides runaway and homeless youth prevention and street outreach, transitional housing and rapid rehousing services. Beyond these necessities, young people can connect with our staff to get additional support and tap resources the help ensure their well-being, build connections, enhance self-sufficiency and reach goals once seen as unattainable.
Most people seem surprised by the number of young people experiencing homelessness in the Granite State as it tends to be an almost invisible problem. While some of these young people struggle with trauma, addiction or mental illness, others are students at the top of their class or have a job. Some are escaping abusive or neglectful homes or have been rejected by their family because of their gender identity or sexual orientation. Some are hungry, cold, scared, and are taking desperate measures to survive.
As a primary provider of comprehensive services for young people at risk for or experiencing homelessness across New Hampshire, Waypoint offers resources to survive the night and achieve for a lifetime. The 14-bed shelter, located with the drop-in Youth Resource Center at 298 Hanover St. in Manchester, is the state’s only low-barrier shelter and safe space dedicated to young people.
It is here that they have access to services tailored to their unique developmental needs with individualized care.
Our programs receive support from a variety of sources, but resources are limited and insufficient to meet all of these needs. Our largest source of funding each year is our annual SleepOut event. SleepOut is a night spent outside each March to expand our collective consciousness about youth homelessness in New Hampshire and raise funds to address critical needs that will help transform lives.
The 2024 SleepOut on March 29 will be our 10th anniversary event, and we are hoping for a record turnout to help end youth homelessness in New Hampshire. Inperson SleepOuts will take place in Manchester, Concord and Rochester and individuals can virtually sleep out at other locations of their choice. Hundreds of individuals participate by getting pledges for sleeping out that night to get a small sense of the challenges many young people in New Hampshire face today.
Businesses can help as well. Many corporations sponsor the event and support teams that participate in SleepOut. Several match the donations raised by corporate team members. Opportunities to sponsor, sign up to be or support a sleeper can be found on the Waypoint website.
Prevention means more than just a bed at night. There are a lot of components needed to run a continuum of homeless service programs that can help youth see a better life in the future. Through SleepOut and other outreach efforts, we want to raise community consciousness and secure sustainable funds to work to end homelessness among youth, but it will take support from the state and the community to continue to do this critical work.
New Hampshire’s young people need your help and support and the responsibility of all of us. We are asking you to do your part by supporting our upcoming SleepOut event as a sponsor, participant or through the creation of a SleepOut team. Please visit WaypointNH.org to learn more.
Borja Alvarez de Toledo is the president and CEO of Waypoint NH. Waypoint is a human services and advocacy organization empowering people of all ages. Alvarez de Toledo resides in Newburyport, Massachusetts.
