Young Adult Leadership Committee

Advocating for youth experiencing homelessness.

Who We Are

A committee of young adults (18-24) with lived experience of homelessness or housing instability interested in making the homeless system better for youth across metro Denver. 

What We Do

Make the homeless system better for youth by: 

  • Amplifying the voices of youth experiencing homelessness to influence decision-making

  • Strengthening our leadership skills through professional development training

  • Creating action plans to solve issues we identify in the youth homeless system

  • Engaging in advocacy & policy-making opportunities related to youth homelessness 

  • Incorporating a diverse set of voices that represents the homeless youth population

Listening Session Feedback from Youth
with Lived Expertise in metro Denver

  • There is a huge gap in shelter and programs for young adults between the ages of 21-24 who are experiencing homelessness. People in that age bracket get left behind. No one should reach a certain age and be cut off from supports.

  • Getting I.D.s and Vital Documents are huge barriers to youth exiting the system or youth experiencing homelessness. I am still struggling to make that happen for myself and sitting in limbo. It is a cycle of barriers. I have no job to pay for my vital documents and I.Ds. I need bus tickets for an interview but can't get them. I need an I.D. to move forward.

  • There is a lack of resources, or there are resources, but they run out or you have to jump through hoops to get them. The lack of transportation and accessibility is a barrier. It is a huge deal to access what is around you. There should be a support service building after you do age out with programs that help with that transition and give the resources you need.

  • In foster care, the supports were not great to help with life skills to make housing possible for youth aging out of the system. Foster parents should be required to go through a to-do list in order to show that the young adult is ready to do life on their own. There should be a structure to help them get ready to transition.

  • I tried to tell my team I wanted to work on life skills, and they kept telling me that I wasn't ready for various reasons. Eventually, my end date in foster care came and I wasn’t allowed to learn these skills but still was left on my own. Youth who are advocating for themselves are not being listened to. Instead of teaching us essential life skills, the system focuses on trauma and behavior. Learning life skills is seen as a privilege.

  • I feel angry when there is a lack of empathy for youth experiencing these barriers. You think people working in this field would want to really help. I know people who had it worse and that upsets me because I know that the outcomes are negative. When we lean on institutions for support and they don’t support us, it is upsetting. They did not focus on me as an individual but rather as a behavior problem.

Our Work

The YALC follows a 7-step action cycle so that we can meaningfully engage in the issues that matter to youth experiencing homelessness. Our Core Organizers will use this space to highlight our work and engage other youth with lived experience in the process.

1

Craft our vision.

2

Learn about the system.

3

Listen to ourselves and other youth.

4

Pick our issue.

 

5

Develop our action plan.

6

Take action.

7

Celebrate and reflect.

 
 

Step 4: Pick our issue.

The group is busy deciding what issue we will address this year. Thank you to everyone who responded to our Youth Feedback survey and participated in the Listening Sessions. Your feedback is invaluable!

  • Apply Now

    If you are someone 18-24 with lived experience of homelessness who would like to make the system better for youth, consider applying today.

    YALC Application

  • Share with Your Network

    If you are a Provider that serves youth experiencing homelessness, consider sharing this flyer with individuals 18-24 that you have worked with.

    Share flyer

FAQs

When does the YALC meet?

Every other week on Wednesdays from 4-6pm via Zoom.

Is the YALC a safe space?

We have put a lot of thought and intention into creating a safe and culturally appropriate space where members feel valued and heard rather than triggered and tokenized. We do this in a few ways, including but not limited to:

  • Reading a Land and Cultural acknowledgment at every meeting to ground ourselves in the history that brought us to this work
  • Being transparent about our group agreements so that everyone is treated the way they want to be treated
  • Encouraging everyone to always advocate for their needs
  • Doing a wellness check-in with every member before diving into the agenda for that meeting
  • Engaging in professional development training that promotes empathy, combats internalized oppression, and creates confident leaders
  • Asking for feedback after every meeting to ensure that everyone feels safe, heard, valued, and engaged

Are youth paid for their time?

Yes! We believe that lived expertise is valuable and that everyone should be compensated for their time. Members of the YALC are paid $25/hour for meetings and other assignments.

Do I need technology to participate?

Yes, but we can help! In addition to being paid $25/hour, members receive a $50 internet stipend every month. We also provide a laptop to our members that don't have computer access.