Building a Foundation: How Stable Housing Unlocked One Student’s Future
As MYC said farewell and best wishes to this resident, they gave Jamie a hug and said, “You’re doing God’s work.”
This college student became a resident of MYC Step Up Housing as a senior in high school. Teachers reached out to MYC just as the two apartments, with spaces for 10 to 12 young people ages 18-24, came online. They said they had a young person whose family home had become unlivable due to structural damage, and this student was currently living out of their car and couch surfing.
“How soon will the units be available?” came the question.
“Now,” came the answer as Jamie held the phone in one hand and the freshly signed occupancy permit in the other.
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Over the past two years, this exemplary Step Up resident has graduated from high school on time, enrolled in college and maintained a job throughout. They shared a few thoughts on how MYC’s housing stability program has impacted them.
First and foremost, Step Up housing offered a sense of security and stability that made finishing school and maintaining employment much easier to do. Additionally, the regular rhythms of home and work meant that this young adult had the opportunity to get their finances straight and to save money.
Saving money and planning for a future are intentional aspects of the Step Up Housing program. Residents must pursue employment, and the rent they pay is a percentage of earnings. A portion of rent goes toward program expenses, but more importantly, half of that rent is deposited into a savings account and returned upon departure.
In this instance, our resident purchased a first car—a reliable one to be sure—and saved over $1,000 to invest in the future. This young adult, now moving into college dormitories, craved not only stability, but a more independent environment in which they had the space to focus on themselves. Family is in the wings, though MYC offered intentional structure and supports.
Beyond housing, this resident took advantage of MYC’s full spectrum of support services. They were grateful for the clean, well-equipped apartment as well as the household and personal care supplies that are made available. They also benefited from the Workforce Development program. Through one-on-one coaching sessions, this resident learned how to navigate the employment website, Indeed, and craft a resume. The Teen Center’s band room was also of interest to this lover of music, and MYC programs are built to consider all aspects of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.**
What Step Up offers most of all, with its Community Navigator and Workforce Development coaching, is a glimpse into a future that may not have felt possible before. This young person, not yet 21 years old, is grateful for MYC’s stable foundation that made so much possible. Now, as they pursue a degree in Business and invest in their passion for music, work in the music industry is what they are focused on. There are uncertainties ahead, amplified by economic realities and the nightly news, but this young person is ready to keep moving ahead.
Even as they move out of Step Up Housing and into the college dorm, the supports and stabilizing forces of MYC are not left behind. MYC’s Community Navigator, Kirsten Latter, will check in regularly and be available for questions. She will connect this fledgling student to the McKinney-Vento liaison on campus, ensuring continuity of support throughout their educational journey
The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is federal legislation that ensures educational rights and protections for children and youth experiencing homelessness, from preschool through college. The law guarantees immediate school enrollment, educational stability, and access to support services. Each school district and college campus must designate a McKinney-Vento liaison to coordinate these services, ensuring that as students transition to higher education, crucial supports continue without interruption.
Midcoast Youth Center & Skatepark believes that strong foundations are built by fulfilling basic needs, which allows for attainment of greater goals. MYC fulfills basic needs through youth homelessness outreach (MSCYEH), transitional housing (Step Up), free nightly dinners (Meal Train), and group therapy (Groups). We also work to build a network and be a trusted partner that can connect young people and their families to the wider world of supports they may need. These stabilizing supports, as well as the engaging afterschool activities and adventure opportunities, help to unlock the inherent potential of every young person while empowering them to thrive.
** Maslow’s hierarchy of needs describes the progression of human needs from basic survival to personal fulfillment. At the foundation are physiological needs like food and shelter, followed by safety and security. Once these are met, people can focus on belonging and connection, then self-esteem and achievement, and finally self-actualization—pursuing personal growth and creative expression. MYC’s holistic approach recognizes that stable housing and basic supplies create the foundation, workforce development builds confidence and economic security, and programs like the Teen Center’s band room enable residents to explore their passions and reach their full potential.
