Thirty people are sleeping outside in the forecasted 19-degree weather Nov. 18th to raise money so that young people don’t have to sleep outside this winter. Donations go toward The PLACE homeless youth shelter and supportive programs in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

I cooked breakfast Sunday at our shelter, and am pleased to say that my ham/cheese/egg sliders received a passing score by our resident chef, Gabe. Gabe is a line-cook working full-time at a downtown food hall, making anything from lobster rolls to tacos to Ramen bowls. He is saving money for an apartment of his own. Gabe is just one of the 49 youth living in the shelter who got a job in the past year with the help of our teams.

Overall, The PLACE worked with 670 young people in 2021 through our street outreach, housing, shelter, health and employment/education services. More than 100 young people are in our housing programs across the city. 

Your help can change someone’s trajectory by creating HOME: Housing stability. On-going positive relationships. Meaningful change through education and employment. Emotional, social, mental and physical health.

Thank you for standing with youth!

Shawna Rae