CEDARS Receives $235K Grant to Provide Support to Pregnant and Parenting Young People Experiencing Homelessness

CEDARS (www.cedarskids.org), a local nonprofit serving children, youth, and families, recently received a $235,000 grant from the Federal Runaway and Homeless Youth Act to provide housing and additional support to pregnant and parenting young people and young adults experiencing homelessness. This new program will be an extension to the continuum of services CEDARS already provides to youth in our community. CEDARS transitional living programs, which provide 24-hour support to young people and young adults, focus on teaching independent living skills as youth transition from care to independence. Youth spend time working toward education and employment goals, as well as life skills and developing positive community connections.

This new CEDARS program will focus on helping young women who are experiencing homelessness while at the same time pregnant or parenting young children of their own. Securing housing and additional supports for these young women is a priority for CEDARS, as well as the Lincoln community. Lincoln has identified eliminating homelessness among youth and young families as a priority, as these youth are at risk for many negative well-being outcomes.

“With this new funding, CEDARS can strengthen our approach to how we serve vulnerable children, youth and families in our community,” says CEDARS President Jim Blue, “but it is the support of our friends near and far that provides the critical assistance necessary to help kids in crisis and build strong families.”

Each young family accepted into this program will work closely with several CEDARS staff who will work on positive role modeling, increased levels of youth involvement in goal setting and community, and supportive outreach with the goal of promoting long-term economic independence and prevent intergenerational poverty.

CEDARS has been supporting children, youth, and their families for over 70 years and remains committed to helping kids in crisis and building strong families. This year, CEDARS will deliver services to over 2,000 children and their families. As it was when CEDARS was founded in 1947, CEDARS mission is to help children and youth achieve safety, stability and enduring family relationships. For more information or to find out how you can help, call (402) 434-5437 or visit www.cedarskids.org.