2019 Spring Letter

Hello.
My name is Will.
A dear friend of mine
introduced me to Jackson
Street. At school, she found
me in the hallway, trying to
hold back tears as I once
again confided in her
about the horrors of my
situation at home. She had
heard it all so many times,
but never before had I
been able to muster the
courage to leave.
It was all too much to handle for anyone,
let alone a 17 year-old.
I knew I couldn’t live like that anymore.
I deserved a normal existence, with friends,
age-appropriate autonomy, and a place
where I felt safe. She listened to me,
consoled me, and told me we would be
able to figure this out after school that day.
After school, my friend connected me with
a place to stay for the night.

After a restless night, that same friend
picked me up and we drove to Corvallis, to
see if there was a bed available at Jackson
Street. All I knew was that it was a place to
live that would help me get to school each
day, but I was apprehensive because I
thought it was a stereotypical homeless
shelter, and I would be the only kid there.
Upon arrival, all that changed, when I saw
it was actually just a regular house, full of
kids like me. It was all great, a bright spot
on a dark day.
For the last two years of
my life I have managed to
prosper and flourish into the
adult I wanted so desperately
to be that morning.
I was able to have a safe place to go at
the end of each day where I found
support completing homework, setting
and achieving goals, and forging
positive peer relationships. My grades
got a lot better, almost immediately.
Having staff there to encourage me
made a difference. I also had an
individual case manager who helped
hold me accountable to my goals like
managing my schedule, obtaining
legal documents, and establishing
connections at school. I joined the
school newspaper, giving a latent
passion for writing a place to thrive.
My desire to publish important stories
that mattered to people led to me
becoming editor-in-chief.

On my 18th birthday I moved
into the transitional living
program called Next Steps,
taking the next step toward
adulthood.
Being an adult is great, but it’s not always
a cakewalk: Work, School, Cooking, Bike
Repair, House and Yard Maintenance, Bills,
Taxes, Life. At Next Steps, I was able to
learn how to do all of that proficiently,
with confidence, through case management,
skills coaching, skills classes, and the
guiding hand of staff. I graduated high
school. I got my first long-term job,
working with kids.
Next month, I will come to the end of
my 18-month stay in Next Steps. I will be
moving into my first apartment with my
best friend, whom I met at Jackson Street.
With the funds I’ve been able to save,
I will be able to cover the deposit, first
month’s rent, and then some.
I’m looking forward to establishing my first home, a safe place to
continue achieving my goals, like one day publishing my first novel.
My story isn't the only one like this.
There are so many runaway, homeless, and at-risk youth in our community.
Jackson Street is leading the charge to end that.
Thank you, Will. I could not have said it better myself.
Over the last 18 years, Jackson Street has focused on the
critical, painful problem of youth homelessness. Because
of the time and resources this community has provided,
you, our supporters, have helped Jackson Street develop
effective services that young people like Will need to
end their homelessness forever.

As the leading regional experts for Runaway and Homeless Youth, Jackson Street
needs your donations to continue this important work.
Together we can…
Prevent youth from becoming homeless by identifying and working with
families who are at risk of fracturing.
Intervene early when youth do become homeless and work toward
family reunification, when safe and appropriate.
Ensure access to safe shelter and emergency services at Corvallis House
and Albany House, offering a welcoming, supportive, non-judgmental
environment where youth like Will can thrive.
Ensure that we respond to the unique needs and circumstances of youth
and young adults – needs that are significantly different from those of
chronically homeless adults.
Create services and housing options tailored to the situation of each
individual youth, including education support and job-readiness
coaching for future self-sufficiency.
Will, as you can tell, is an amazing youth, and I look forward to reading his first
novel someday. Every youth and every story is unique and there isn’t one solution
that is going to work for all. So to meet the physical, developmental, and social
needs of each youth experiencing homelessness, Jackson Street is committed to
designing and implementing a unified, collaborative community response and
that includes supporters like you.
You are the reason Jackson Street has been able to help so many youth have the
foundation they need to overcome obstacles and thrive as young adults.
Money is crucial to continue this important work, and your gift is an investment in
the future of our community. Please give a thoughtful, generous donation today.
Thank you,
Ann P. Craig
Executive Director
P.S. From Will… “I ask you to give generously, open up your hearts—and your
checkbooks—because every contribution you make gives another youth like
me, with a dream, the chance to make it into a reality.”