Journeys: Bridge Over Troubled Waters, Fall 2018

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journeys fall 2018

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Welcome Center now open year-round Ashley turned to Bridge for overnight shelter in May when we previously would have been closed.

Our Welcome Center first opened one winter, seven years ago, as a warm refuge to sleep at night. This past spring we decided to keep it open year-round, instead of closing in April.

As soon as she turned 18, Ashley ran away from home to escape her abusive legal guardians. She couch surfed and

dropped out of high school before coming to Bridge Over Troubled Waters. While staying in our Welcome Center each night and working with a counselor, Ashley reenrolled in high school quickly enough to catch up on missed work and graduate on time this past June.

The Welcome Center is so much more than a safe place to sleep at night and connect with a counselor. We also provide dinner and breakfast, shower and laundry facilities, and group activities.

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Liberty House providing newfound liberty for young adults This summer, with generous support from our partners at Liberty Mutual Insurance, Bridge opened Liberty House, an apartment co-op that provides opportunities for independent housing with minimal supervision. This house is the perfect next step for young adults who have graduated from other Bridge programs such as the Transitional Living Program in Brighton. Liberty House residents are able to practice living on their own and build up their rent and credit histories in preparation for finding an apartment in the Greater Boston area.

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Our new app! — the first app of its kind in Massachusetts For years, Bridge has been providing youth with a paper-based street survival guide. Now, Bridge is also providing an updated, real-time app.

Many people experiencing homelessness use their cellphones as a multipurpose tool to navigate their way through an extremely complex system of resources.

Bridge Over Troubled Waters has launched a free, downloadable app, which provides critical information about resources for homeless youth.

Eric Gulko, President of Innovo Benefits Group, noted “connecting with resources and programs is so vital for Boston’s homeless and runaway youth, and when we heard about the idea of this app, we immediately knew we wanted to help make it happen.”

This app would not have been possible to create without the support of Innovo Benefits Group, Atlantis Technology and Liberty Mutual Insurance.

You can download the app today! Search for “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” in the App Store and help spread the word about this free resource! It is available for both iPhone and Android.

Public Body hosted a fundraiser to support Bridge, helping raise more than $1,200 and a donation of 75 PUMA t-shirts for youth who access services from our Street Outreach Workers or via our Mobile Medical Van.

Liberty House

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Jessica came to Bridge from a traumatic household. “As far back as I can remember, my mother was very difficult.

She was extremely verbally abusive and occasionally physically abusive to everyone in the family including my father. My mother didn’t support me or provide any guidance about my future. She did not approve of any of us furthering our education beyond high school. In spite of this, I was always very focused on school and wanted to go further in my education.”

A friend referred Jessica to Bridge, where she was able to get a safe place to sleep in the Emergency Residence.

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A few months later, she moved into our Transitional Living Program in Brighton and started accomplishing some of the things she always wanted to do. “I work over 40 hours per week and attend Urban College at night and on the weekends. I’ll graduate in less than two years and plan to apply for a scholarship at a four-year college.”

Jessica was one of the first individuals to move out of the Transitional Living Program and into Bridge’s Liberty House in Dorchester this past summer. “I feel like Bridge is always by my side and I get all the help and support I need as I work towards becoming independent.”

Richard is the Coordinator of Bridge’s Counseling and Support Services Program, having begun his career at Bridge in 1981 as a counselor after teaching history at Boston’s English High School. Richard has been a stalwart, heartfelt counselor, earning the trust of several hundred youth over the past 35 years to help them overcome their turbulent pasts and achieve their hopes and dreams. The youth he counsels don’t forget.

Richard reflects on one young man. “He was in very bad shape, doing some hard drugs in the Common. He said he looked up and saw our sign, Bridge Over Troubled Waters. He came in, high. We talked a lot; I made sure he had something to eat. I suggested he try a detox program, set up a referral, and arranged transportation,” said Richard. He continuously advocated for, and visited the teenager until he completed the program. About a year later, Richard got a knock on his office door. A young man stepped in and asked if Richard remembered him.

“Of course,” said Richard. The young man told Richard that no one else ever offered to help him, or show him how to get help. Four or five years later, the young man returned a second time to thank Richard once again.

We are so proud of the impact Richard has made on many young adults, and grateful that the Fish Family Foundation chose to share in our appreciation of Richard’s work. Congratulations, Richard!

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Diploma in hand and belief in her future restored, Ashley enrolled in Bunker Hill Community College this fall. She wants to be a vet assistant. She’s also moved into Bridge’s Emergency Residence Program, a supportive living program where she will continue to work on her educational and work goals.

No matter the time of year, Bridge is now able to provide safe, age-appropriate overnight accommodations and life-changing progress for youth just like Ashley.

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Congratulations! He helped me around ’79, wonderful man, he has helped so many people!

Thank you for all the lives you have made better including mine. — Lynne

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Hey, Rich… you probably don’t remember me, but you helped me get my start here in Boston back in ’07. I figured you’d like to know that I’m doing very well today and wicked grateful for all that you’ve done! I hope one day our paths cross once again. — Lenny

Thank you to organizations throughout Greater Boston who donate their time and help serve our youth.

To learn more about how your company or organization can get involved with Bridge, please contact Barbara Baxter, Manager of Corporate and Foundation Relations, at bbaxter@bridgeotw.org or 617-423-9575 ext. 231.

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Longtime Counselor Richard recognized with Fish Family Foundation Appreciation Award

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Midaxo staff conduct resume/ cover letter reviews and mock interviews.

Thanks to Constellation Energy and the United Way of Massachusetts Bay for packing and donating 150 backpacks for our youth to have the tools they need for educational success.

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47 West Street, Boston, MA 02111

Thursday November 8, 2018 6-9 PM City Winery

80 Beverly @ One Canal Boston, MA Haymarket T Stop For more information and tickets, visit www.bridgeotw.org/b2f

Bridge Programs

Street Outreach & Mobile Medical Van

Runaway Hotline

Counseling & Support

Drop-in Day Center

Medical & Dental Clinic

Education & Career Development

Emergency Residence

Single Parent House

November is National Homeless Youth Awareness Month

What is Bridge doing this November?

In 2007, Congress established November as National Homeless Youth Awareness Month.

• Collaborating with the Massachusetts Bay

Last year over 40,000 teenagers and young adults under age 25 were experiencing homelessness nationwide.

Many are on the streets through no fault of their own.

Youth become homeless because they age out of the foster care system, experience abuse, or face sexual discrimination.

Transitional Living Program

To better address youth homelessness, Bridge is working on several initiatives, including: Transportation Authority (MBTA) and Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth on a focus group with youth experiencing homelessness

• Hosting Bridge 2 the Future event at City Winery

in downtown Boston, providing the community an opportunity to connect, collaborate, and contribute

• Opening Liberty House in partnership with Liberty

Mutual Insurance, providing eight co-op apartments for Bridge youth to reside in as they establish their financial independence and stability

Bridge is the foremost agency in Boston providing crucial programs and resources for 2,000 homeless, runaway, and high-risk youth each year.

What can you do this November?

Our effective, age-appropriate services guide youth to achieve their dreams and become self-sufficient members of society.

Visit our website www.bridgeotw.org to learn the many ways you can be a part of National Homeless Youth Awareness Month.