2018 Impact: Bridge Over Troubled Waters Annual Report

expanding service, transforming lives

fiscal year 2018 | annual report

The Bridge Continuum of Care Bridge’s proven and innovative services are delivered through an effective continuum of care model, welcoming all youth “where they’re at” and guiding them to a self-sufficient and stable adulthood. Programs provide youth with essential help, ranging from short-term, survival aid services (street outreach, mobile medical van, in-house medical clinics, drop-in hours for laundry, showers and food), to longer term, life-skill building residential programming (transitional and independent housing programs for youth and supportive housing for young parents and their children) that recognizes past trauma and prepares youth to become independent adults.

At all points along this continuum, youth have access to ongoing counseling, educational opportunities and career services at Bridge’s easily accessible, downtown Boston location.

Street Outreach

Mobile Medical Van

Runaway Hotline

Counseling & Support Housing

Transitional Day & Welcome Center Programs

Single Parent House

Transitional Living Program

Education & Career Development Emergency Residence

47 West Street, Boston, MA 02111

bridgeotw.org

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.

2018 FINANCIALS Income Dear Friend, For over 48 years, Bridge has been the foremost agency in Boston serving homeless, runaway, and at-risk youth with effective, age-appropriate programs and resources.

As a leading program innovator for youth development services, we expanded several of our programs and services this year with an eye towards better addressing our youths’ needs.

Two programs in particular that you will see in this report are the expansion of our Welcome Center to be open year-round, providing age-appropriate overnight accommodations for youth with nowhere else to turn, and the purchase and redevelopment of Liberty House in Dorchester for youth who go through our Transitional Living Program in Brighton.

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

$3,751,077 $1,739,136 $499,574

Total Operating Expenses: $5,989,787 Income for Capital Projects: $1,979,513 Total Income:

Expenses Programs: $4,441,323 Administration: $1,068,,175 Fundraising: $447,257 Total Expenses:

$5,956,755

investment & other

fundraising administration

I am eager to continue the important efforts we are leading to ensure coordinated, age-appropriate housing and support services for youth.

INCOME

EXPENSES

Sincerely, government contracts

Elisabeth Jackson Executive Director

$7,969,300

private grants & contributions

programs

Our wraparound services ensure youth are supported in all aspects of transforming their lives.

2018 IMPACT

Single Parent House

Street Outreach

22 young adults worked on establishing new futures

Outreach staff connected to 1,100 youth on streets

Silas first heard about Bridge through our Street Outreach staff He had just turned 18, left his foster home and reconnected with his birth mother. Confused and anxiety-ridden, Silas did not know where to turn and had been wandering the streets. Bridge outreach workers connected with Silas and encouraged him to visit Bridge. He hesitated at first, but feeling unsafe on the streets one night this summer, Silas decided it was time to come to Bridge.

Feeling welcomed and comfortable, he began to open up about his anxiety stemming around family issues. Silas is now working with Bridge staff to learn how to navigate his relationship with his birth mother and his emotional responses.

Bridge launches street resource guide app For years, Bridge has met youth “where they are at,” providing a paper-based street survival guide. We now also have an app version, providing information about critical resources available at Bridge and elsewhere.

Youth sought survival aid 5,600 times on van Mobile Medical Van staff and volunteers ensure that youth on the Boston Common and in Harvard Square access sandwiches, water, and essentials while beginning a conversation about how to get help.

Transitional Living Program

Youth learn life skills and responsibilities they need to maintain their day-to-day life, with the support and guidance of our Transitional Living Program counselors and staff.

In Brighton, the Single Parent House provides supportive, transitional housing for 11 young parents, who have experienced homelessness, and up to two of their children. Our Single Parent House is a community residence and safe environment for young parents to learn parenting skills and create a strong foundation for their child(ren) with ongoing counseling and support.

Bridge serves 2,000 homeless, runaway, and at-risk youth.

Age Breakdown

11%

53%

14-17

18-21

22-24

Bridge’s licensed social workers are experienced in working with youth ages 14 to 24.

Education & Career Development

387 youth developed their education or career Counseling & Support

Each year,

36%

“My counselor makes me feel comfortable and is a great help to me. It’s nice to have someone to talk to when I’m having a problem.”

765 youth met counselors 3,564 times to process past trauma and develop goals

80% of our young parents established their footing

Education and Career Development staff help youth earn their high school certificate, start college, learn job skills, and establish meaningful careers.

Emergency Emergency Residence Residence

50 young adults took the next step to independence Housing

50 youth began to stabilize their lives

Ethnic Backgrounds

50% 20% Black

White

25%

5%

Hispanic

Youth in our Emergency Residence lay the groundwork for their future by securing a job or going to school, and saving money.

other

Living Situation at Intake

32% 25% Mobile Medical Van

Runaway Hotline

135 underage youth contacted Bridge in times of distress We are the local respondent in Eastern MA for the National Runaway Hotline. Our staff ensure youth under age 17 are safe, and provide preventative and intervention measures 24/7, 365 days a year.

Transitional Day Program & Welcome Center

Over 200 youth relied on our day and night programs for safety and rest

Welcome Center expanded to be open year-round for youth like Ashley As soon as she turned 18, Ashley ran away from home to escape her abusive legal guardians. By the time she found Bridge, she had dropped out of high school. While staying in our Welcome Center each night and working with a counselor, Ashley re-enrolled in high school quickly enough to catch up on missed work and graduate on time this past June. Ashley is now enrolled in Bunker Hill Community College.

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

Liberty House established to provide independent living This summer, with generous support from our partners at Liberty Mutual Insurance, Bridge opened Liberty House. This house is the next step for young adults who have participated in the Transitional Living Program in Brighton.

Jessica was one of the first individuals to move into Liberty House earlier this year. “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.”

Bridge participates in rapid re-housing program for youth based on the “housing first” model This program with the City of Boston is another avenue to prioritize youth for housing. Rapid re-housing focuses on youth who have been experiencing homelessness due to an array of difficulties and obstacles.

family

couchsurfing

19%

12%

7%

5%

from shelters

DCF/program referrals/jail

on streets

independent living

Single Parent House

80% of our young parents established their footing

In Brighton, the Single Parent House provides supportive, transitional housing for 11 young parents, who have experienced homelessness, and up to two of their children. Our Single Parent House is a community residence and safe environment for young parents to learn parenting skills and create a strong foundation for their child(ren) with ongoing counseling and support.

Each year,

Bridge serves 2,000 homeless, runaway, and at-risk youth.

Age Breakdown

11%

53%

14-17

18-21

36% 22-24

50 young adults took the next step to independence Housing

Ethnic Backgrounds

50% 20% Black

White

25%

5%

Hispanic

other

Living Situation at Intake

32% 25% Liberty House established to provide independent living This summer, with generous support from our partners at Liberty Mutual Insurance, Bridge opened Liberty House. This house is the next step for young adults who have participated in the Transitional Living Program in Brighton.

Jessica was one of the first individuals to move into Liberty House earlier this year. “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.”

Bridge participates in rapid re-housing program for youth based on the “housing first” model This program with the City of Boston is another avenue to prioritize youth for housing. Rapid re-housing focuses on youth who have been experiencing homelessness due to an array of difficulties and obstacles.

family

couchsurfing

19%

12%

7%

5%

from shelters

DCF/program referrals/jail

on streets

independent living