impact fiscal year 2017
| annual report
Dear Friends and Supporters
In the mid-1980s, Bridge was one of the first agencies in the nation to develop housing programs for homeless youth. Our Transitional Living Program (TLP), which provided safe housing, counseling, case management, and nurturing support, was identified as a national model by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and designated for replication around the country. A lot has changed since that time, and Bridge has continued to create innovative and responsible housing programs to meet the unique and varied needs of the many young people we serve. This past year, FY2017, was a banner year in Bridge’s efforts to reach young people where they’re at and provide safe, affordable, and effective housing programs, whatever their level of self-sufficiency or intensity of need for support. According to recent data from Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, 40% of former foster care youth in the U.S. experience homelessness after leaving care. Bridge intake data has indicated that 50% of youth in our drop-in center and counseling programs aged out of the foster care, mental health or juvenile justice systems. Responding to this troubling data, we opened a new housing program in the middle of the year, in partnership with the Department of ChildrenPage 2 and Families, to provide the level of support and independence needed for youth who have been in the child welfare system to thrive.
Letter from our Board President and Exe
We were one of only nine agencies in the country to receive a two-year federal demonstration grant to create this new supportive housing model for youth who have transitioned out of foster care, and who are at Graphics: EJ photo and signature, DB pho high risk for long-term homelessness. In addition, Bridge was chosen by the City of Boston to create and start the first Rapid Re-Housing (RRH) program for youth in the Boston area. Based on the highly regarded “housing first” option, young people who have been homeless the longest and have had the most difficulty moving forward, now have the opportunity to gain apartments in the community through RRH, with rental assistance and intensive case management provided by Bridge. To date, 26 homeless youth are living in the community and working with a Bridge case manager on plans for education, jobs, and independence. The TLP, opened over 30 years ago, has been renovated, expanded, and transformed into an up-to-date facility which offers milieu-based services in a family-like environment, where youth who grew up without connections develop relationships Page 2 and skills that will last them a lifetime. This extensive renovation project, supported Letter from our Board President and Executive Director by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the City of Boston, local corporations and foundations such as Liberty Mutual and the Yawkey Foundations, now provides updated systems andGraphics: EJ photo and signature, DB photo and signature state-of-the-art programming areas where up to 100 youth each year can live, learn, and grow.
impact fiscal year 2017 | annual report
In 47 years of providing innovative services for runaway and homeless youth, we know how varied their personalities, characteristics, and needs can be. We have learned that no one housing model or program will be right for everyone, and we continue to work strategically to build the comprehensive, wrap-around system that will work for our young participants. Despite their vulnerability, homeless youth have many strengths and talents and the desire to move forward in their lives. We are excited to continue our partnership with our donors, supporters, friends, and all stakeholders in this important effort to create the coordinated, age-appropriate system of housing and support that will reach every homeless young person in Boston and ensure that they all can achieve and sustain a place to call home. Thank you for being there for Bridge and for the diverse population of youth we serve!
Sincerely,
Elisabeth Jackson Daniel Buoniconti Executive Director President, Board of Directors
2
impact | fiscal year 17
We are all familiar with the African saying, “It takes a village…” Here at Bridge, these words took on special meaning as so many generous members of our community came together to volunteer their time and talents in a variety of ways to support the young people we serve. Throughout the year, corporate teams, groups of friends and individuals held fund-raisers, cooked and served lunches and dinners, painted and cleaned program spaces, built playgrounds, planted gardens, tutored students, provided medical care on the Mobile Medical Van, and gave so generously of themselves while having fun and getting to know Bridge staff and youth.
It Takes a Team of Volunteers
impact | fiscal year 17 3
HOPE BUILDS Demolition
Interior Upgrades
Expansion
Furniture in Place
Phase One Complete $4.5M secured .
More Housing Initiatives For homeless youth, the need for safe, affordable housing is of the utmost importance. Bridge moved forward with new housing initiatives that provided housing and prevented long-term homelessness for over 100 youth. Youth Apartment Pilot—a new Bridge residence for young people aging out of foster care – a population of youth at extremely high risk for homelessness. Rapid Re-Housing—the only RRH program in Boston for homeless youth, providing immediate access to apartments for the most vulnerable youth, along with case management and stabilization services to enable them to stay housed. Cooperative Apartments—coming soon! We are close to re-establishing our innovative cooperative apartments for youth who need extra time and support to finish their education and reach longer-term goals.
Time to Expand Housing for Youth Page 4 + 5
Bottom half of spread L-R
Housing Initiatives Call out graphic: 26 youth in permanent housing
Safe Place Bridge marked its one year anniversary as Boston’s licensed Safe Place agency. The following locations are now Safe Place sites: Bridge’s headquarters, Bridge’s Mobile Medical Van, Project Trust, Wang YMCA of Chinatown and Teen Central at Boston Public Library/Copley, and Boston public libraries in Dorchester, East Boston, Roslindale, and Roxbury.
Advocacy for Homeless Youth Funds
Youth Housing Pathways—a new Bridge residence fo population of youth at extremely high risk for homel
Bridge made several trips to Washington to advocate for federal dollars for homeless youth programs. 4
impact | fiscal year 17
For homeless youth, the need for safe, affordable ho moved forward new housing initiatives that provided homelessness for over 100 youth.
Rapid Rehousing—the only program in Boston for ho to apartments for the most vulnerable youth, along w services to enable them to stay housed.
On the Hill with Senator Warren are (l-r) Bridge’s Peter Ducharme, Elisabeth Jackson and Arlene Snyder.
Co-op Apartments—coming soon! We are close to re for youth who need extra time and support to finish Safe Place
ay e
Single Single
Transitional Transitional
TransitionalSingle Transitional Medical Education Single Emergency Runaway Counseling Emergency Street Street Runaway Runaway Counseling Counseling Transitional Transitional Medical Medical Education Education Emergency Single Living Parent Day Program & Dental & Career& Dental Parent Residence Hotline &&Support Residence Outreach Outreach & Hotline Hotline & Support & Support Day Day Program Program & Dental & Career & Career Residence Parent Program House Clinic Development House Mobile Mobile Clinic Clinic Development Development House
Transitional Transitional Living Living Program Program
Street Street Runaway Runaway Counseling Counseling Transitional Transitional Medical Medical Outreach Outreach & & Playground & Dental Hotline Hotline &and Support & Support Day Program Program & Dental FenceDay Mobile Mobile Clinic Clinic Medical Medical Van Van
Finishing Touches: A New Backyard
Street Outreach & Mobile Medical Van
Emergency Emergency Residence Residence
Living Parent Living Bridge Parent increased capacity Program House House Program to 50 youth, moms and their children in the SPH + TLP
The Ribbon is Cut
Medical Medical Van Van
• Liberty Mutual Insurance
Thank you to our Street Street Runaway Runaway housing capital Outreach Outreach && Hotline Hotline Mobile Mobile funders: Medical Medical Van Van
Counseling & Support Street Outreach & Mobile Medical Van
Education Education & Career & Career Development Development
Medical Transitional & Dental Day Program Runaway Counseling Clinic Hotline & Support
• The Commonwealth Office
Transitional Education Single Emergency of Housing and Economic • Yawkey Foundations Living & Career Parent Residence Transitional Medical Education Emergency Single Development Transitional Program Development House Transitional Medical Medical Education Education Single Transitional Counseling Counseling Transitional Transitional Emergency Day Program & Dental & Career Residence Parent Emergency Living Single • National Football League Living & Dental & Dental & Career & Career Parent Parent Living & Support & Support Day Day Program Program Residence Residence Clinic Development House • MajorProgram Donors Program Clinic Development Development House House Program • City of BostonClinic Department of
Neighborhood Development
First Annual B2F Bridge hosted its first annual Bridge 2 the Future fundraising
event during the first week of National Youth Homeless Awareness ay Counseling Transitional Medical Education Emergency Single Transitional ee Future fundraising event during the first week of National & Support Day Program & Dental & Career Residence Parent Living Month. The event drew young professionals from around the city for Transitional Transitional Medical Education Single Street Runaway Counseling Emergency Clinic Development House Program event drew young professionals from the city for an evening of Living Single Day Program & Dental & Career Parent Emergency HotlineStreet & Support Residence Outreach & Transitional Street Runaway Runaway Counseling Counseling Transitional Medical Medical Education Education Emergency Single Transitional anTransitional evening of cocktails, community, and connection while raising hile raising awareness of and money for homeless youth. Program Parent Clinic Development House Residence Mobile Living Outreach Outreach && Hotline Hotline & Support & Support Day Day Program Program & Dental & Dental &for Career & Career Residence Parent Living awareness of and money homeless youth. Medical Van Program Mobile Mobile Clinic Clinic Development Development House House Program Medical Medical Van Van
nual Bridge 2 the Future fundraising event during the first week of National ess Month. The event drew young professionals from the city for an evening of d connection while raising awareness of and money for homeless youth.
ay e
Counseling & Support Street Outreach & Mobile Medical Van
Transitional Medical Day Program & Dental Runaway Counseling Clinic Hotline & Support
Counseling & Support
Transitional Day Program
Medical & Dental Clinic
Giving Thanks
Youth, staff, and volunteers celebrate community and enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with all of the fixings.
Transitional Education Emergency Single The Boston area’s most prominent business leaders gathered at Bridge’s annual gala to raise significant Living & Career Residence Parent Transitional Transitionalfunds for Bridge’s programs. Shown are (l-r) Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Bridge youth Jessica and Bruce. Medical Education Emergency Single Program Development House The Boston area’s most prominent businessLiving leaders gathered Day Program & Dental & Career Residence Parent Above and beyond, Fund the Mission @$400K Program Clinic Development House at Bridge’s annual gala to raise significant funds for Bridge’s programs. Shown are (l-r) Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Bridge youth Graduation Jessica and Bruce. Education Program Icon
Annual Gala
ommunity, enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with all of the
ay e
Education & Career Development
ers celebrate community, enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with all of the
Graduation Emergency Residence
Single Parent House
Congratulations to the Class of 2017!
Transitional Living Program
Congratulations to the Class of 2017! The Boston area’s most prominent business leaders gathered at Bridge’s annual gala to raise significant funds for Bridge’s programs. Shown are (l-r) Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Bridge youth Jessica and Bruce.
impact | fiscal year 17 5
CHALLENGES Where youth are at when they first visit Bridge outpatient
none
21%
70%
HEALTHCARE USE
none
independent living program
4,779
23%
youth visited the Transitional Day Program
unknown
4%
13%
shelter
5% friends
18%
streets
16%
14%
LIVING SITUATION family
still in high school
30%
<9th grade
3%
8% 38%
some college
21%
dropped out of high school
EDUCATION LEVELS GED/high school diploma
6
impact | fiscal year 17
visits on the Mobile Medical Van
youth received counseling sessions
47%
DEPRESSION LEVELS mild
6,064 2,163
moderately severe
30%
5,000 contacts by Street Outreach Workers
9% emergency room
2017 IMPACT
30%
233 youth received overnight shelter, transitional living accommodations, and permanent housing
346 youth received education and career development services
Income Private Grants & Contributions:
$3,576,723
Government Contracts:
$1,488,794
Investment & Other:
$598,398
Total Income:
$5,663,915
Donated Services:
$372,719
Expenses Programs:
$3,921,875
Administration:
$976,046
Fundraising:
$540,368
Total Expenses:
$5,438,289
Each year, Bridge serves 3,000 youth
53% Male
47% Female
AGE BREAKDOWN donated services
9%
6%
investment & other
14-17
10%
25%
government contracts
59%
private grants & contributions
INCOME
49% 18-21
42% 22-24
ETHNIC BACKGROUNDS
48%
fundraising
Black
Fundraising: 10%
10%
18%
Administration: 18%
administration
72%
programs
EXPENSES Programs: 72%
21% White
19% Hispanic
12%
multiracial
Street Outreach & Mobile Medical Van
Runaway Hotline
Counseling & Support
Transitional Day Program
Medical & Dental Clinic
Education & Career Development
Emergency Residence
Single Parent House
Transitional Living Program
Street Outreach & Mobile Medical Van
Runaway Hotline
Counseling & Support
Transitional Day Program
Medical & Dental Clinic
Education & Career Development
Emergency Residence
Single Parent House
Transitional Living Program
The Bridge Program Model
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
Bridge Over Troubled Waters provides effective and innovative services to runaway, homeless and high-risk youth, helps youth avoid a lifetime of dependency on social services, guides youth towards self-sufficiency, and enables youth to transform their lives and build fulfilling, meaningful futures. A special thank you to Allied Printing Services who donated their production, printing, and mailing services.
47 West Street, Boston, MA 02111
bridgeotw.org