The Harbour Agency announces service results for 2017

The Harbour, a social agency for homeless youth in the North and Northwest suburbs of Illinois, announces the results of its services for 2017 year-to-date. The Harbour offers homeless youth immediate safety and shelter, and prepares them to become productive citizens.

The Harbour provides a comprehensive continuum of housing and case management services to youth in crisis, ages 12 to 23, in the North and Northwest suburbs of Cook County.

The agency is the only state-licensed program providing emergency shelter and transition living services to homeless youth older than 18.

Important statistics regarding homeless youth in our area:

• Each year, 25,000 of our young people in Illinois will have no place to call home;

• Over half are located outside of the city;

• 92 percent do not receive the needed services;

• Teens ages 12-17 are more likely to become homeless than adults;

• In 2012, the National Runaway Safeline received more than 1,000 calls from our immediate area;

• Approximately half of all homeless youth experienced physical abuse at home before becoming homeless;

• 5,000 young people die every year due to assault, illness or suicide while homeless.

Headquartered in Park Ridge, The Harbour offers several programs for homeless youth:

The Safe Harbour Emergency Shelter offers safe, short-term shelter for girls ages 12-21. The Harbour's goal is to help girls locate a safe and stable environment, preferably home, with a plan designed to maintain safety, family functioning, and educational stability.

Youth in Transition provides up to 18 months of transitional housing to youth ages 16-21 through both supervised group living and scattered-site apartments

Successful Teens/Effective Parents provides specialized services to pregnant and parenting youth ages 16-21 as they live in their own apartments and learn skills to parent effectively. We are the only agency in our service area providing residential services to pregnant and parenting youth.

Highlights of The Harbour's 2017 achievements include the following:

• 62 young women were provided with 833 days of care in the Safe Harbour Emergency Shelter;

• 35 young women were provided with 6,739 days of care in the Youth in Transition program;

• 13 young women were provided with 2,432 days of care in our STEPs program.

A detailed reporting of actual results against goals set for 2017 are reported in the latest Harbour Voice newsletter, theharbour.org/voice-oct-2017.html. This issue also unveils The Harbour's strategic plan for 2018-2023 and financial information for 2017.

For information about The Harbour, visit www.theharbour.org.

Since 1971, The Harbour has provided housing and supportive services to community youth in crisis in the North and Northwest suburbs of Cook County. Since its founding, hundreds of youth have passed through the doors who were deflected from homelessness, graduated from our programs, and are now living independently.

Today, the wide spectrum of youth housing options ensures we can meet youth where they are and provide comprehensive services designed to foster self-sufficiency and success. Youth are provided with individualized services through three core programs: Safe Harbour Emergency Shelter; Youth in Transition; and Successful Teens/Effective Parents (STEPs). While The Harbour receives some financial support from the state of Illinois, it relies on donations to provide the support needed to continue providing its services. Monthly donations, bequests and small single donations are gratefully accepted.