Step Up Transitional Housing: Meeting Challenges, Celebrating Success

Young adults aged 18–24 arrive at Step Up Transitional Housing through referrals from schools, mental health programs, and community members. Once here, they’re supported by MYC’s Community Navigator, Kirsten, who walks alongside them through both struggles and triumphs.

This is the story of resilience, perseverance, and how community support makes a difference.

 

The Challenges Our Residents Face

Lack of Identification
Many youth arrive without official ID documents, making it difficult to access jobs, housing, or education. Replacing these documents is a critical first step.

Transportation Barriers
While the Community Navigator and COAST Workforce Coordinator shuttle youth during the day using our Lee Toyota-donated electric car, late evening work shifts—like one resident’s job at KFC—often mean long walks in the dark.

Shared Living Complexities
Dorm-style living requires trust, boundaries, and responsibility. For youth with little experience maintaining shared spaces, this can be overwhelming. Kirsten provides coaching in communication, accountability, and basic life skills.

Food Insecurity
Hunger is a constant challenge. Limited resources and lack of cooking knowledge mean many youth rely on the Community Navigator to connect them with food programs and training.

 

Bright Spots and Success Stories

Community Partnerships
A local church recently committed to providing regular meals for residents with work and class schedules that prevent them from attending our nightly Teen Center Meal Train dinnertimes.

Improved Living Spaces
Thanks to Kennebec Builders and generous donors, renovations are underway to upgrade bathrooms and kitchens in the residences.

Educational Milestones

• One resident enrolled at University of Maine Orono.
• Two enrolled this fall at SMCC.
• Another is preparing to re-enroll after a year away.
  Each of these students is a first-generation college student, supported through paperwork, pep talks, and ongoing encouragement.

Whole-Person Support
When one student nearly bailed out of college due to fear, Kirsten connected them with tutoring, mental health support, financial guidance through Seeds of Maine, and a McKinney-Vento liaison—putting them back on track.

 

Why Your Support Matters

Consider the time, wisdom, and care it takes to prepare a young adult for independence—then imagine doing so without stable housing or family support.

Through Step Up and the Community Navigator role, MYC reinvests those hours, skills, and tender care into young people who need it most.

With your help, we can ensure these youth not only survive—but thrive.

 

**Want to make a difference? Support Step Up, and our related youth housing programs, by becoming a Youth Champion or spreading the word about this life-changing program.

** If you know an 18 – 24-year-old who might want to learn more about our housing supports, please share this link – Step Up