Beginning in June 2020, our membership voted to focus on Youth Homelessness and Development within the Louisville Community. We have a strong 5-year plan for our impact in this area. Our plan was developed in conjunction with our main partners, Boys and Girls Haven, Coalition for the Homeless, Saint Vincent de Paul, and TrueUp. We are committed to assisting our partners to reduce the number of youth experiencing homelessness in our community. Much of our plan was formed with input from our partners who have received HUD funding toward the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP), a program with the intention of eliminating youth homelessness in Louisville. 

To provide support to at-risk youth and assist with their transition to independent living, the JLL will develop mentoring opportunities that help with cooking, parenting, access to higher education, employment opportunities, and more.  In addition to this programming, the JLL will work to develop a program to adopt young adults and furnish their apartments. Our partners in this project are Boys and Girls Haven and St. Vincent De Paul.

To support disengaged young adults in obtaining access to education and employment resources in addition to gaining entry to employment opportunities, the JLL will work with our partners Coalition Supporting Young Adults (Coalition for the Homeless) and TrueUp to bridge gaps that exist in our community due to the lack a Youth Reengagement Center. Recently, the funding for this center was voted down, so are learning about creative new ways we can assist these young adults in transition. 

To assist homeless youth with their transition to independent living, the JLL work will create a host home program where young adults can be temporarily hosted by individuals/families or at an Airbnb for a few months. Our partners in this project are Coalition for the Homeless and TrueUp.

In order to advocate for positive change that will impact Homeless Youth the JLL will work to develop a number of coalitions within our community with the goal of accomplishing the following: Advocate for the State bill to lower the age of foster care transition support to 15,  secure transportation options for homeless young adults in the City of Louisville and educate landlords on the need for safe and affordable apartments that can be set aside for target group at a fair market rate. We will seek the partnership of many potential thought leaders and influencers in this space, such as the state and city legislatures, TARC, Greater Louisville Association of Realtors, TrueUp, and KY Youth Advocates, etc.

Past Partnerships 

Little Libraries: The JLL continues to maintain and restock 6 Little Libraries (wood boxes containing up to 40 books that can be borrowed by anyone in the community) in partnership with Metro United Way. The Little Library added most recently can be found outside Engelhard Elementary and is dedicated in memory of JLL Member Pia Posadas-Miller.

Other past partners include:

• Blessings in a Backpack
• Hope Scarves
• West End School
• Brooklawn Prom
• Maryhurst
• Boys and Girls Haven
• Ronald McDonald House
• Family Scholar House
• St. Vincent DePaul
• Joseph’s Children’s Home
• JCPS Clothing Closet
• Susan G. Komen Race for a Cure
• YMCA

To learn more or to be considered for a partnership please contact the VP Community Impact at community@juniorleaguelouisville.org.