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youth homelessness — The Day Center is bringing smiles to so many childrens’ faces. (Pathways)

On any given day, there are hundreds of youth experiencing homelessness on the streets of Birmingham. United Way of Central Alabama partners with local organizations working to help these young people in our community. We spoke with three of those groups to learn more about their mission and what we can all do to help.

1. Pathways

Pathways has multiple programs supporting homeless youth in our community.

The Day Center, located in downtown Birmingham, meets the basic needs of unsheltered women and children by providing emergency shelter, hot meals, clothing, hygiene products, showers, laundry facilities, phones, computers, case management and life skills classes.

Women and children sleeping outside or anyplace not meant for human habitation, such as an abandoned building or car, are welcome in the Day Center.

Pathways also has an Early Learning Center, where children between the ages of 8 weeks and 5 years are able to access childcare from 7:30AM until 5:30PM.

“The Early Learning Center is childcare that is free of charge for children who are experiencing homelessness. We have recently adopted a Montessori approach to childcare. This is a game changer for our children in that it is even more trauma informed.

They learn everything from how to put on their coats and shoes, to skills like cutting with scissors. We even provide help with potty training. We believe the education of our children will have the greatest impact on the trajectory of their lives.”
Jennifer Sumner, Executive Director, Pathways

Location: 409 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd N. Birmingham, AL 35203
Contact: 205.322.6854
Website | Facebook | Instagram

How to help: Donate items on their wish list, volunteer, sponsor a child or donate financially.

2. The Way Station

Living area at the Way Station. (Jacob Blankenship / Bham Now)

The Way Station, a project of AIDS Alabama, was created to meet the unique needs of people ages 19 to 24 who are at risk for, or are currently experiencing, homelessness. To serve this vulnerable population, the organization offers transitional housing and an emergency shelter.

In the shelter, young people can stay overnight, meet with a case manager, have dinner and breakfast, take a shower and have a safe night’s sleep.

In transitional housing, residents are able to stay for up to two years, receiving a host of services to help them transition into more stable housing over time.

Services include:

Access to medical care.
Case management.
Education about employment and housing readiness.
Financial empowerment classes.
GED prep.
Introduction into partnerships with trade and vocational training.
Life skills training.

“Our main goal is to provide rapid rehousing without barriers. We want to be able to get these young folks into a safe, stable environment and into medical/mental healthcare, if needed, as soon as we can.

When someone has safe housing, they don’t feel forced to do things that they normally wouldn’t do. Our goal is for these people to become self-sufficient and live happily and independently—and that starts with having a safe place to live.”
Kathie Hiers, CEO, Aids Alabama

Location: 650 3rd Avenue N, Birmingham, AL 35203
Contact: 205.324.9822
Website | Facebook | Instagram

How to help: Make a monetary donation or donate personal items through their Amazon wishlist.

3. Project Hope at Family Connection

The longer teens live on the street, the more difficult it becomes to transition them away from it. Project HOPE’s vetted team has boots on the ground – scouring Birmingham’s streets, talking to young people about shelter options, educating them about community resources and handing out food, clothing and hygiene packs.

“The youth we serve are either going to commit a crime or have one committed against them. We are out every day looking for youth experiencing homelessness to try to bring them back to our shelter, so they don’t feel like they have to make a choice between things like selling drugs or their bodies in order to have the basic necessities of life.

We want to keep them safe and allow them to make better choices that lead to a more successful life.”
Ed Eaton, Project Hope

The Project Hope Day Shelter provides a safe, restful place —a refuge—for youth and helps them begin to take the steps necessary to end their own homelessness. When 16 to 21-year-olds come to Project Hope, they have access to a hot meal, clothing, personal care items, shower and laundry facilities, internet and a place to rest.