Amidst COVID-19, HUD Cohort 5 Completes Their 100-Day Challenge on Youth Homelessness

Over the course of 2 days, these communities and teams came together for the first time to set an unreasonably ambitious goal, and begin working on the action plans to achieve them. They left the Launch excited and eager to embark on their 100-Day journey.

Just a couple of weeks into their 100-Day Challenge, COVID-19 became a reality. A decision was made to put their Challenge on an indefinite pause - so the communities could first address their immediate needs related to the growing pandemic. 

About 6 weeks after the initial pause, HUD Cohort 5 came back together - this time, virtually, to hold a Reboot Launch Workshop. The 5 communities reassessed their goals, and restarted the Challenge for the remaining 75 days. Their updated goals were:

• Central Alabama - In 100 days, 30 youth ages 19-24 will be enter safe and stable housing and be offered supportive services, with 60% having touched the child welfare or justice systems
   
• Charleston, SC - In 100 days, Charleston will house or divert 50 YYAs age 18 to 25 to safe and stable housing. We will attempt to connect 100% to supportive services, and 35% will be pregnant or parenting.
   
• Jacksonville, FL - In 100 Days, we will house 100 youth and young adults ages 16-24, 40% of whom will be LGBTQIA+ and/or survivors of human trafficking.
   
• Monroe County, FL - In 100 days, Monroe County will permanently house 5 homeless unaccompanied youth aged 16-24 with connections to supports (e.g., employment, life skills training, education, behavioral health, etc.), of which 40% will be people of color, LGBTQ+, and/or have a disabling condition and 20% will be previously involved with the Departments of Juvenile Justice or Children and Families.
   
• North Central West Virginia - In 100 days, we will safely and stably house 35 homeless and at risk YYA ages 18 to 24, of whom 75% are or have been involved with Child Welfare and/or Juvenile Justice and/or are affected by substance use.

The teams jumped quickly back into action, rebuilding on the initial momentum from the start of the Challenge. At the end of July, their 75 days were complete - and the cohort met once more (virtually), for their Sustainability Workshop. 

Across the Challenge, the communities collectively safely and stably housed a total of 168 youth and young adults in 100 days! Check out a sample of their results below, and be sure to keep an eye out for a more thorough case study on Cohort 5 coming soon. 

• Central Alabama - 35 YYA safely and stably housed
• Charleston, SC - 46 YYA safely and stably housed
• Jacksonville, FL - 108 YYA safely and stably housed
• Monroe County, FL  - 8 YYA safely and stably housed
• North Central West Virginia - 17 YYA safely and stably housed

This 100-Day Challenge was one of the most unprecedented that we as an organization have facilitated. We had to work quickly and efficiently to adapt our choreography to a virtual setting in a very short time frame. 

Our inspiration to achieve this was the teams themselves. Despite all the uncertainty due to the pandemic, both personally and professionally, every single team member was committed to the Challenge - and more importantly, committed to helping the youth and young adults in their communities during an especially vulnerable time. We couldn’t be more proud of the Cohort 5 communities, and want to extend our personal thank you and congratulations to each and every team member for all of their hard work and dedication.  

However, the work isn’t done yet! The teams are currently preparing for their What’s Next Workshop, and will continue to work on actions and utilize the relationships that were built to keep the momentum from their Challenge going for the long term.