2021 Impact Report: A Bridge to the Future

a bridge to the future fiscal year 2021 | annual report

Bridge is Boston’s foremost organization dedicated to transforming the lives of runaway, homeless, and at-risk youth through safe, supportive, and encouraging relationships and effective, innovative services that guide them toward self-sufficiency.

2021 FINANCIALS Dear Friend, In 2021, Bridge Over Troubled Waters continued to respond to the devastating impact the pandemic and related events have had on vulnerable youth. The journey home is longer and more difficult for many youth, but Bridge stands with each young person every step of the way.

This year at Bridge, we continued to grow the Rapid Re-housing Program, which supports youth in their own apartments with ongoing case management. We opened expanded overnight space for youth in downtown Boston and hosted on-site vaccination clinics for youth and Bridge team members.

Income Private Grants & Contributions: Government Contracts: Investment & Other: Total Income:

Programs: Administration: Fundraising:

$7,917,163 $1,129,746 $889,516

Total Expenses:

$9,936,425

investment & other

fundraising administration

INCOME

As has been true throughout Bridge’s 50+ year history, this work would not have been possible without the leadership, support and advocacy of our community. Thank you for your enduring belief in the youth at Bridge.

Elisabeth Jackson Chief Executive Officer

$10,409,610

Expenses

Like many across the country, Bridge’s frontline team is responding to the national crisis in youth mental health. A cornerstone of our approach for more than five decades, behavioral health counseling and support has been critical as the Bridge Team provides services for youth with more frequent and severe mental health crises and cases of depression and anxiety.

Sincerely,

$4,006,599 $5,771,089 $631,922

government contracts

private grants & contributions

EXPENSES

programs

WHO WE ARE & WHO WE SERVE Bridge Youth Every year, Bridge serves 2,000 homeless, runaway and at-risk youth. Many of these young people belong to communities that are disproportionately affected by homelessness.

Racial Diversity

Age Breakdown

11%

33%

53%

23% 19% 5%

22-24 yrs.

Black

Latinx

56%

14-17 yrs.

18-21 yrs.

White Other

Living Situation at Intake

30%

couch surfing

18%

28%

on streets

family

16%

from shelters

5%

program referrals

3%

independent living

Youth Experiences

80%

59%

51%

72%

youth assessed with depression and anxiety at intake

youth have been involved in the child welfare system

youth with employment

youth enrolled in or graduated from high school or the equivalent

Bridge Team Bridge’s dedicated and diverse team members and leadership have a singular focus: to provide our community’s most vulnerable youth with the support, skills and tools to transform their lives.

Racial Diversity, All Team

Racial Diversity, Leadership

44%

42%

10% 4%

57%

43%

Black

White

Latinx Other

Black

White

47 West Street, Boston, MA 02111

bridgeotw.org

Bridge connected with youth for 1,174 visits out in the community and on the Mobile Medical Van

2021 IMPACT

Street Outreach

While youth were disengaged from other supports and many public spaces remained closed, Bridge’s Street Outreach Team connected with youth in neighborhoods in Boston and Cambridge for survival aid and critical services.

Expanded overnight space for youth in downtown Boston To respond to winter weather and rising COVID cases, Bridge partnered with the state of Massachusetts to open overnight space for youth at HI Boston Hostel in December 2020.

This space provided additional, physically distanced beds for youth, and respite from winter conditions and the dangers of being on the street year-round.

Mobile Medical Van expands footprint Bridge expanded its footprint and added a new stop in Dorchester to the Mobile Medical Van’s weekday route to meet more youth “where they’re at.”

653 youth received harm reduction counseling on the streets

Transitional Day Program & Welcome Center

Mobile Medical Van

618 youth met counselors 2,241 times for assessments, advocacy and behavioral health therapy Runaway Services

135 youth under 18 contacted Bridge in times of distress “Bridge provides immediate and ongoing emotional and logistical support for underage youth in crisis. Even if they are only with us for a short time, we help youth determine the best next step.”

- Jade Shaughnessy, LMHC, Clinical Coordinator

76 youth stabilized their lives and began to develop life skills

Counseling & Support

Bridge’s new Intake Department ensures early, comprehensive support In 2021, Bridge established a formal Intake Department that welcomes youth who are new to the agency and helps them determine next steps. With a trauma-informed approach, the dedicated Intake Team meets youth with immediate solutions to critical needs, efficient connections to other Bridge programs, high-priority referrals and most importantly, with invaluable early trust in a friendly, accepting environment.

Emergency

Residence

222 youth made 5,840 visits to our day and night programs for safety and rest

Over 550 career counseling sessions guided 147 youth in soft skills development and career exploration Bridge’s Education and Career Development Team provided technology resources for virtual and hybrid school and special support including small group and one-on-one instruction for youth. The team also helped youth with interpersonal skills, interview techniques and resumes to respond to the constantly evolving and increasingly online job market.

“It’s nearly impossible to be successful going back to school, finding a job or focusing on your mental health when you’re hungry or you don’t know where you’re sleeping at night.”

- Matin Yusuf, Client Services Coordinator

86% of youth gained or maintained employment and 81% of youth moved forward in school The Transitional Living Program offers flexibility and helps youth build confidence during their transition into adulthood, guides them in tangible skills, like cooking, cleaning and grocery shopping and helps them balance home life with their responsibilities at school and work.

151 youth moved into independent housing and Rapid Re-housing with support

Single Parent House

19 young families began their path home

“Stabilization in housing is about so much more than just a key to your own place. In the Rapid Re-housing Program, we help youth develop social emotional skills, household management skills and financial literacy so they can thrive independently.”

When Jean first came to Bridge, she did not have a job and the financial stress of taking care of her son had forced her into debt. The Bridge Team helped Jean secure childcare so she could find and maintain employment. Using the financial literacy skills she learned in the Single Parent House, Jean has developed a budget that supports her family’s most important needs, allows her to pay down her debt and begins to build her savings.

– Terkeshia Boykins, Rapid Re-housing Coordinator Education & Career Development

Transitional Living Program

Housing