Who know what homeless youth need better than youth and young adults who have experienced homelessness? In May and June, Journey Home hired five youth with lived experience of homelessness as consultants to serve on Journey Home’s Youth Advisory Board, a new group that is providing their expertise to improve the programs and services for homeless youth and young adults in the Capitol Region. Omar Abuhakmeh, Samone Jones-McCarthy, Stanley Cardona, Teth Pickens, and Ryle Jarvis have jumped on board to partner with and help lead the 100 Day Challenge teams, as well as the Youth Engagement Team Initiatives (YETIs) in the Capitol Region. These youth and young adults have already provided invaluable advice, ideas, and engaged many of their peers to begin accessing the homeless services in the community. They have juggled high school, jobs, and a variety of other community activities to help our programs meet the needs of the youth who are struggling. We are so grateful to them for choosing Journey Home to help amplify their voices as advocates for change.
