About The YHDP CCP
Milwaukee's pathway to the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (YHDP) application has been paved by a history of collaboration among youth service providers, the lead agency, and the insights of the Youth Advisory Board (YAB). While the city's youth have previously received support through various system programs, and youth provider leadership has had a presence on the Board of Directors, there has historically been an absence of dedicated funding specifically for youth homelessness initiatives. Recognizing the critical need for targeted resources, the decision was made to pursue dedicated funding. This strategic move aimed to fill a significant gap in the existing system, ensuring more focused and effective support for homeless youth. The YHDP application represents a deliberate step towards a dedicated youth homelessness system designed to address the unique needs of this vulnerable population in Milwaukee.
Milwaukee’s YHDP CCP is dedicated to ending youth homelessness by fostering a comprehensive support system that includes housing, income, and social services. Guided by principles of youth choice and voice, the program aims to ensure that Milwaukee becomes a city where every young person has access to safe, immediate shelter and flexible housing, making homelessness brief, rare, and a non-recurring phenomenon.
Mission
The goal of the Milwaukee Coalition on Housing and Homelessness Youth Homeless Demonstration Program is to prevent and reduce youth homelessness. We seek to uplift a holistic safety net of services including housing, income, and social support by increasing collaboration for greater system effectiveness. We will use a unified definition of homelessness and integrity, and be led by youth voice and choice across the homeless response system. We will achieve this by working to increase the visibility and advocacy of youth homelessness with local leaders in power.
Vision
We envision a Milwaukee that offers safe and affirming spaces for youth and young adults that ensure immediate shelter and flexible housing options. The experience of youth homelessness will be brief, infrequent, and non-recurring. The Milwaukee Coalition on Housing and Homelessness will center youth-led, holistic programming to inform local services and strategies.
Values
Addressing the issue of youth homelessness requires a comprehensive approach that places young people at the center of all interventions and strategies. The core values identified by the Youth Advisory Board (YAB) and other stakeholders reflect a deep understanding of the multifaceted nature of homelessness and the importance of empowering those it affects directly. These values—Youth Choice, Youth Voice, Lived Experience, Provision of Life Skills, Youth-Centered, and Continuum of Support—are critical in creating effective, sustainable solutions.
For further information about the CCP, please contact
Davonta Sellers
Power of Paths Youth Action Board President