Native American Connections Receives $420,000 From The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation To Complete Affordable Housing For Homeless Youth
Native American Connections opens Saguaro Ki, a new housing program for youth
PHOENIX, July 1, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Native American Connections (NAC) has been awarded a $420,000 grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation to complete renovations on the Saguaro Ki youth housing complex. On any given night, roughly 350 youth in Maricopa County find themselves without a place to call home. With the opening of Saguaro Ki, NAC will be able to offer even more transitional housing options and support services to those in need.
"Too many youth in our community do not know where they'll sleep tonight," said businesswoman Renee Parsons. "Native American Connections is addressing this need by providing not just a bed, but transformational services for young adults in crisis."
Made up of 24 studio apartments, Saguaro Ki provides affordable housing for youth ages 18 to 24 who are transitioning from homelessness. Youth living at Saguaro Ki will have access to services focused on wellness, education and employment opportunities while addressing any substance abuse and behavioral health issues. The ultimate goal of these programs is to help youth gain the skills and financial stability needed to secure permanent housing.
"The opening of Saguaro Ki would not be possible without financial assistance from generous community partners such as The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation," said Diana Yazzie Devine, CEO of Native American Connections. "The Parsons have been long-time supporters of organizations working to provide lasting solutions to homelessness, and we are honored to have their backing and encouragement on this project."
Saguaro Ki is located next to NAC's first youth facility, HomeBase, a 25-bed emergency shelter program that helps youth move from crisis situations to stable environments. Many youth housed at HomeBase lack the skills or experience needed to live independently or left undesirable family environments, often due to their identification as LGBTQ. With the two facilities next to one another, youth will have a continuity of care and work with the same staff they have come to trust during their stay at HomeBase.
"Regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity, youth who find themselves facing homelessness deserve a strong support system," said businessman Bob Parsons. "In addition to affordable and transitional housing, NAC provides youth with resources necessary to achieve long-term success."
NAC offers housing programs for individuals and families of all ethnicities with specialized communities for not just youth but also families, seniors, individuals with disabilities and chronically homeless men and women. Levels of support range from emergency shelters and transitional housing to affordable housing and permanent supportive housing. All of the programs offer onsite services to help residents increase stability and improve their physical and mental health. To learn more, visit nativeconnections.org.
About Native American Connections
Since 1972, NAC has been recognized as an innovative multi-service organization working to improve community health and wellness along with increasing housing stability. Native American Connections mission is "improving the lives and individuals and families through Native American culturally appropriate behavioral health, affordable housing and community development services." NAC provides permanent supportive housing (350 units); affordable housing (500 units) and transitional recovery housing (20 units). Behavioral health services include residential treatment (70 beds) for substance use/co-occurring disorders at the Patina Wellness Center along with outpatient and group counseling for adults and children. Visit http://www.nativeconnections.org to learn more.
About The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation
The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation offers support to nonprofit organizations successfully working to empower, educate, nurture and nourish people during what is often the darkest time of their lives. Founded in 2012 by philanthropists and business leaders Bob and Renee Parsons to provide hope and life-changing assistance to the country's most vulnerable populations, The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation offers critical funding at critical times to those in need. The Foundation's giving is driven by the core belief that all people – regardless of race, religion, roots, economic status, sexual orientation or gender identity – deserve access to quality healthcare, education and a safe place to call home. Follow @WeDealInHope on social media or visit TBRPF.org, to learn more about partner organizations and the important work being done in the community.
SOURCE Native American Connections
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