Council President Ginther Tours Star House, Proposes City Support for Homeless Youth
For Immediate Release
November 7, 2014
For More Information:
John Ivanic, City Council, 645-6798
Melinda Swan, The
Collective Genius, 571-9584
Homeless Columbus teens and young adults hoping to begin new chapters in their lives would receive some much-needed help in the form of a $300,000 grant to be voted on by Columbus City Council at its November 10th meeting. Council President
Andrew J. Ginther announced legislation to provide funding to
Star House as the organization continues to search for a new building to expand its services. Star House is a 24-hour drop-in center operated by The Ohio State University for homeless people between the ages of 14-24.
“Star House is a safe haven that helps younger homeless people move from the streets to stabilized housing,” said President Ginther, who toured Star House’s current facility this morning. “During their stay, young people can get something to eat, do laundry, and take advantage of educational and job training opportunities. Star House provides a critical service in our community.”Star House serves up to 65 youth per day and provided services to more than 500 young people in 2013. The organization was founded in 2006 as the product of a federally funded research program that determined the need for a drop-in center to provide homeless and housing-insecure youth with essential, intensive services like housing, education, employment, and mental and physical healthcare. The legislation, sponsored by Health & Human Services Committee Chair
Priscilla R. Tyson, would help Star House relocate its center to a newer facility that will better serve homeless and housing-insecure young people.
"The young people we serve need guidance and a safe space to begin. Many are severely depressed and come from unsafe and unstable home environments. We work to build their trust so that they can rebuild their lives,” said Terry O'Connell, chair of the Star House Advisory Board. “We are incredibly grateful to Council President Ginther, councilmembers and staff, and all of our City's leaders for helping us be even more responsive to homeless youth and to the entire community."Star House integrates research and community service through effective engagement and treatment strategies that are implemented without the myriad barriers of many other research-to-practice efforts. As a result, Star House is always testing and implementing state of the art, evidence-based practices.
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