Our Goal:
Outreach is empowering youth to move beyond homelessness.
Young people facing homelessness are often hiding in plain sight. They might look like the neighbor kid who’s been forced to spend several nights at a friend’s house because it’s not safe to go home. Or they might be struggling to afford rent and hold down a job as a single parent. The thing they need the most is not a roof and a bed, but caring relationships so they can be seen, known, and loved for who they are. Someone who can show them this isn’t the end of their story. Through building relationships, we help young people find their footing and begin their journey towards hope and a stable future.
End Youth Homelessness
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An estimated
7,800
youth face homelessness annually in Marion County.
The Problem
Youth homelessness is on the rise in Indianapolis.
Youth homelessness is hard to measure. Many young people who become unstable in their housing often wind up “couch surfing”, doubling up with family or friends who offer them a place to stay for a short period of time. As such, Outreach completed a study (Indicators of Youth Homelessness) and found there are an estimated 7,800 youth and young adults in Indianapolis who experience homelessness each year.
OUR MISSION
Equipping and empowering youth facing homelessness to achieve stability and life transformation.
Our Impact
2023
Jan 1 – Dec 31
830
youth served
190
youth employed
1,787
group program sessions completed
566
housing assessments completed
6,059
meals provided
Our Why
We believe that true transformation occurs in the context of relationships. By connecting youth to services and building intentional relationships, we will help improve their social, emotional, intellectual, physical, and spiritual well-being and capacities.
Our Values
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We seek to love others the way Christ loves us. All are welcome and can expect to be treated with dignity and grace. At Outreach, you are seen; you are known; and you are loved.
Our Critical Actions
Being present emotionally & mentally
Approaching with emotional intelligence
Responding to challenging relationships with love
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We are committed to building healthy and meaningful relationships with everyone we encounter. We believe relationships enrich our lives and help us to heal and grow. We work hard to earn trust while giving trust freely.
Our Critical Actions
Building mutual trust
Consistently engaging in relationships
Promoting healthy conflict
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We support continuous growth on the individual, programmatic, and systemic level. Growth requires change and the willingness to meet new challenges with curiosity, creativity, and commitment.
Our Critical Actions
Asking curious questions
Celebrating creativity
Committing to execution
Embracing change
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We seek to love others the way Christ loves us. All are welcome and can expect to be treated with dignity and grace. At Outreach, you are seen; you are known; and you are loved.
Our Critical Actions
Pursuing sustainability
Fostering awareness
Emphasizing soul care
Participating in physical wellness
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Our efforts seek to empower. We believe God endowed greatness in every person, and we work to help people realize the potential that already exists within themselves.
Our Critical Actions
Recognizing strengths
Actively equipping others
Encouraging throughout the journey
Promoting autonomy
Our Story
Outreach is the leading organization in Central Indiana to specialize in serving and meeting the unique needs of youth facing homelessness in our communities.
It all started with serving youth peanut butter & jelly sandwiches out of the trunk of the car. In 1996, Outreach was founded through meeting the needs of youth staying under the bridges in Broad Ripple. Our founder went out with volunteers to meet the immediate needs of these vulnerable young people. Through PB&J sandwiches, bottled water, and hygiene items, the Outreach team would pack up the minivan and meet these youth where they were currently staying.
After some time, meeting the immediate needs wasn’t enough as there was a need to go deeper in relationship with these individuals. That’s when Outreach opened up their first Program Center in 1999. As Outreach continued to have more youth coming through the doors, they continued to grow and move into new locations. From 2009 to 2017 Outreach was located in an Iconic Blue House, and once they outgrew that space, they built its current Program Center on the Near Eastside in 2017.
A place where our youth and supporters matter!
At Outreach, no one is invisible, including our partners and volunteers! When you make the decision to support Outreach, you become a valued member of our family!
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