New Avenues for Youth 2022-2023 Year in Review

2022-2023 Year in Review

New Avenues for Youth is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention and intervention of youth homelessness. Since 1997, our programs and services have impacted more than 30,000 young people as they work to overcome barriers, pursue their goals, and realize their potential. From supporting basic needs like meals and counseling to providing opportunities for education, job training, employment, and housing, we meet youth where they are and help them get where they want to go.

1,324

youth accessed services from New Avenues in the 2022-2023 program year.

From the Executive Director

Dear Friends, New Avenues for Youth stepped up this past year to help young people move out of homelessness and, for those at risk of homelessness, to stop it before it starts. It’s what we do.

How did we do it? By listening to their voices. By delivering a wide range of services that support their goals. By partnering with other organizations and stakeholders to maximize collective impact.

In short, by taking action.

We increased access to services that address young people’s basic needs.

We conducted mobile outreach at parks and schools to connect them to services. We expanded mental health and substance-use recovery support in Multnomah and Clackamas counties, as well as culturally specific programming for LGBTQIA2S+ youth.

We opened a shelter for younger youth who have run away or are leaving unsafe situations, as well as a transitional housing program for youth experiencing sex trafficking. We delivered job training, employment, education, and foster-care transition services that help youth build skills and prepare for the future.

Comprehensive, strategic responses like these are key to addressing youth homelessness, which is at an unprecedented scale in our community. And we must keep working toward solutions.

As you will read in this 2022-2023 Year in Review, that’s just what New Avenues is doing. We are making a difference in the lives of individuals and the broader community. And we can’t thank you enough for your support along the way.

Gratefully,

Sean Suib Executive Director

Executive Leadership Sean Suib

Elaina Medina

Jalil Haqiqi

John O’Flaherty

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

DIRECTOR OF EQUITY & INCLUSION

IT DIRECTOR

HR DIRECTOR

Lauren Eads

Rebekah Deal

Sarah Nedeau

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT & COMMUNICATIONS

FINANCE DIRECTOR

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS

Board of Directors Andrew Colas

Josh Frankel

Travis Irving

CHAIR

VICE CHAIR

TREASURER

Ashley Campion

Bill Lehman

Brett Hayes

Catherine Albers

Erin Gorsline

Evie Smith Hatmaker

Heather Killough

Ian Lombard

Jasmin Grace

Jeri Kiefel

Joan Tate Allen

John Whitted

Lisa Shim

Margaret Gervais Hinshaw

Martin Moll

Meggie Finn

Mishawn Pedersen

Mitchell Hornecker

Pat Trunzo

Penny Bewick

Sandra McDonough

Vanessa Sturgeon

Ali Murphy

Andy LoPiccolo Kate Nelsen

Ambassador Board Chad Seegmiller

Alice McKenzie

CO-CHAIR

CO-CHAIR

Elliott Moore

Jake Withnell

Jeremy Herrig

Nicholas Huber

Summer Boron

Tyler Reeves

Meet Zahra Zahra is dedicated to the causes she cares about. For the past year, she has volunteered with A Way Home America, a national nonprofit focused on ending homelessness for BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+, and other youth with intersecting identities.

Earlier this year, she traveled to DC to meet with members of Congress to advocate for housing rights for young people and to Las Vegas for a policy summit. She has worked for several years with Project Lemonade (a Portland nonprofit supporting youth in foster care) as an intern, employee, and advocate, including speaking to the media about the organization’s work.

As a high school student in foster care, Zahra first connected to New Avenues through our PDX-Connect Independent Living Program (ILP), which supports youth as they transition from foster care into adulthood. Accessing ILP services for three years, she also enrolled in our Avenues to College program (which helps youth in foster care access and succeed in college), became a resident at New Meadows Dorothy Lemelson House (our housing program for youth transitioning from care), and for four years engaged in services through our job training and employment program PAVE. Zahra’s resilience and determination will continue to take her far. She is on track to graduate from Portland State University in 2024 with a Bachelor of Science degree, intends to pursue a Master’s degree, and looks forward to a career in social services. “My plan,” says Zahra, “is to have a really great job helping youth prepare for and transition to adulthood, similar to the support I needed and benefited from years ago. And to own a home—all pink of course!”

Meet River When River isn’t working as a barista or taking classes at Portland Community College, you might find him sewing clothes, biking around town, or playing with his newly adopted cat Ellie. Or you might find him at a meeting of one of New Avenues’ youth advisory boards, which elevate the voices of young people and help inform the design of our services.

Shortly after his freshman year at Portland State University, escaping domestic abuse, River began experiencing homelessness and had to put school and work on hold. He connected to New Avenues’ PAVE program for job training and career coaching, hoping to build skills for the workplace and find a fulfilling job. He also began accessing meals, showers, and other support from our Drop-In Center, as well as working with a New Avenues Case Manager, who helped him access stable housing through the Affordable Rents for College Students program at College Housing Northwest.

In early 2023, River began a paid internship at our social enterprise Ben & Jerry’s PartnerShop, gaining real-world work experience in a mentored environment, and was promoted to Shift Lead, a role in which he thrived. In the spring, he obtained a barista certification after completing a ten-week training course at the nonprofit organization p:ear and secured a great job at a place he always wanted to work. The skills he learned at Ben & Jerry’s have translated well to his current role.

“When I first started accessing services at New Avenues,” says River, “my dream was simply to get my life back in order.

I wanted to feel seen again in a world where experiencing hardship means you become an outcast. I wanted to live slowly again, work somewhere I felt valued, and wake up in my own bed. Each step at New Avenues helped lead me back to myself.

I hope to move forward with the confidence and insight I have gained from peers and mentors along the way.”

Meet Donzell Donzell has a busy schedule. Married with four kids, he has worked the night shift, full time, at a major grocery store for the past two years, earning a great wage, with full benefits for his family and continued pay increases. Working the night shift also means Donzell can be there for his family during the day.

He first connected to New Avenues in 2017, when a friend invited Donzell, who was experiencing homelessness and needed a job, to join him for Job Readiness Training (JRT) in our PAVE program. After completing JRT, Donzell began a three-month internship at our social enterprise Ben & Jerry’s PartnerShop, moved in with a friend, and saved up to get his own place. He worked with a New Avenues Housing Case Manager, who helped him secure first and last months’ deposits and furniture for an apartment. Meanwhile, Donzell became an Assistant Manager at Ben & Jerry’s, a position he held for nearly two years.

Donzell is on track for advancement into a management role with his current employer. Needing more space for their growing family, he and his wife recently applied for housing through Home Forward (the housing authority for Portland).

“Long term,” says Donzell, “we want to buy a house. That’s the goal we’re always working toward.”

Key Impacts

15,959 meals were served in our Drop-In Center

We opened Butterfly House, the first independent transitional housing program in Oregon for youth survivors of sex trafficking

330

housing placements or interventions were made for youth in our housing programs or the community

136

youth enrolled in Avenues to College, which helps youth transitioning from foster care access and succeed in college

103

121

youth accessed our ROSE and THORN programs for drug and alcohol recovery and mental-health supports

youth received services from the Alba Collaborative, which supports unstablyhoused younger youth in East Multnomah County

10,301 case management hours were provided to 306 youth

281

youth accessed services from our job training and employment program PAVE and 37 from our social enterprises

We opened Alba House, a six-bed shelter for youth ages 9-17 who have run away or are leaving unsafe situations that focuses on family reunification

239

youth accessed culturally specific LGBTQIA2S+ services

333

youth accessed services from our PDX-Connect program for youth transitioning from foster care to adulthood

61

youth were enrolled in our New Day program for youth experiencing sex trafficking

To all of our volunteers and supporters,

T H A N K YO U !

By donating meals to our programs, holding donation drives, attending our Special Events — Brews for New Avenues, the Steve Allen Comedy Show & Scoop-a-Thon — & sharing our mission with your friends & community,

YO U ARE M AKI N G A DIFFERENCE!

The Joyce N. Furman Building 1220 SW Columbia Street | Portland, OR 97201

newavenues.org

www.newavenues.org