Lighthouse Announces Successful Close to “A Place to Call Home” Campaign
LIGHTHOUSE ANNOUNCES SUCCESSFUL CLOSE TO “A PLACE TO CALL HOME” CAMPAIGN
CINCINNATI (January 29, 2018) – Lighthouse Youth & Family Services is proud to announce the successful conclusion of its “A Place to Call Home” fundraising campaign. Lighthouse has raised $24.9 million dollars, 100% of its goal for the campaign supporting the construction and operation of the new Lighthouse Sheakley Center for Youth at 2314 Iowa Avenue.
“Lighthouse is thankful for the community’s support as we work to end youth homelessness in Cincinnati by 2020. The new Sheakley Center is at the center of the plan and its construction would not have been possible without the help of many donors, financing partners, government officials, and community stakeholders,” said Lighthouse Youth & Family Services President & CEO Paul Haffner. “We now look forward to taking the next steps in our plan to help every young person have a place to call home.”
The Lighthouse Sheakley Center for Youth, a multipurpose complex for homeless youth, opened its doors this month. The building houses 36 individual shelter bedrooms for youth ages 18-24, 39 apartments, and a day resource center. Well-trained and experienced Lighthouse staff, including the Lighthouse street outreach team, are on site providing mental health care, life skills and job training, substance abuse services, and help finding employment and safe housing. Each youth works with staff to create a plan to achieve self-sufficiency.
Bonita Campbell, Senior Director of Homeless Youth Services at Lighthouse, will oversee Sheakley Center operations. Ms. Campbell explained Lighthouse’s vision to end youth homelessness as “ensuring that any young person on the streets of Cincinnati who wants shelter will have it, and every youth in shelter will move to stable housing with a plan for building an independent life. The Lighthouse street outreach team works every day to connect homeless youth with resources, whether that results in placement in one of our shelters or elsewhere. Lighthouse is here to serve any homeless young person who wants help.”
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About Lighthouse Youth & Family Services
Mission: advance the dignity and well-being of children, youth and families in need
Lighthouse Youth & Family Services is dedicated to providing the best services and compassionate care to children, youth, and families in need. The agency is a nationally recognized innovator in services for youth and families in crisis, foster care and adoption, mothers and babies, homeless youth and young adults, and youth involved with the juvenile justice system. Lighthouse also provides opportunities for learning and achievement for all students as well as housing options for young adults learning to become self-sufficient. For more information, visit www.lys.org.