Love and care changes everything for youth experiencing homelessness. Through emergency shelter, supportive housing, and outreach programs at The Bridge, youth are given the tools to grow and become leaders for their communities.
Read a special message from Cody, a former youth in emergency shelter at The Bridge and current member of the Youth Advisory Board, to learn how the love and care they received from The Bridge changed their life. Then, consider making a gift to help ensure all youth are safe, accepted, and supported.
What comes to mind when you think about a time you’ve felt loved and accepted for who you truly are? For me, I think about my time as a youth in emergency shelter at The Bridge for Youth, and the care and support I received.
I started coming to The Bridge when I was around 16. My home was not a safe place and because of that, I was not able to attend school regularly. I was never supported in my identity, and I had nowhere to be my authentic self. This would all change when I started staying at The Bridge and attending their LGBTQ+ support group.
For the first time, I heard people use my correct name and pronouns. The staff were willing to listen and meet me where I was at. Finally, I was in a safe place to be exactly who I am. Feeling that love and acceptance was lifesaving.
Staying at The Bridge helped me overcome so many roadblocks in my life. I was able to get relevant care that met my needs, and through The Bridge’s therapy program, was able to work on rebuilding my relationship with my family. Being in a supportive environment was paramount to my mental well-being. It gave me the strength to go back to school again.
Since getting the support I needed from The Bridge, I’ve graduated college with a 3.9 GPA. I recently married the love of my life, with staff from The Bridge in attendance. When I’m not busy reading books or working on cars, I do what I can to make the change I want to see in the world.
I’ve been on The Bridge’s Youth Advisory Board since 2021, where I get to use my past experiences to implement changes that will benefit future youth. The Bridge also recently launched a new Youth Voice and Leadership Initiative, where I am now on a team of staff, youth, and the Board of Directors to help co-create an impactful model of intersectional leadership in 2025. Being on the Youth Advisory board and the new Youth Voice and Leadership Initiative is exciting. I would not have been empowered to be a leader if it weren’t for the love and care I got at The Bridge.
Together, we’re meeting youth where they’re at and making sure they feel safe, accepted, and supported in a way that works for them. Whether they’re at The Bridge because their home isn’t safe, because they’ve been kicked out due to being LGBTQ+ or pregnant, or because they come from generational homelessness—whatever the case, all youth deserve to be met with loving, compassionate, trauma-informed care. And at The Bridge, they are.
Being embraced by a community of love and care changes everything. Would you consider making a meaningful gift to The Bridge today to support young people experiencing homelessness?
When you support The Bridge, you help create lifesaving opportunities for youth like me to find their voice and create the lives they’ve always wanted. I hope you will join us on this journey.
Help youth experiencing homelessness dream, inspire, and hope. Now is the time to guarantee your impact. When you donate it is guaranteed to be matched by an anonymous donor. Ensure all youth are safe, accept, and supported by making a gift today.
