Runaway and street-active youth looking for safe places for food, shelter and support are now able to find this information in one place: www.rhyregionalalliance.org. The new website is sponsored by the Runaway & Homeless Youth Regional Alliance (RHY) and highlights services offered by four agencies in southeast Michigan, including Alternatives for Girls, Common Ground, Ruth Ellis Center and Starfish Family Services.

 

The statistics surrounding runaway and homeless youth are staggering. Nationally, between 1.6 and 2.8 million youth run away each year. In 2012, 25 percent of children in Michigan lived below the federal poverty level. In Detroit alone, it is estimated that up to 1,000 homeless LGBTQ youth are on the streets each night.

 

“The RHY Regional Alliance was formed so we are better able to assist youth who feel they have no where else to turn. The website details where they can go for help whether in a crisis situation or not,” said Michele Legleitner, program director, RHY Regional Alliance and executive director, Alternatives for Girls. “Our ultimate goal is to eliminate homelessness among those 18 and under.”

 

“This new website is designed to be mobile-friendly and works on a smartphone the same way it does on a desktop, because we know mobile is the primary way youth will access it,” Legleitner said.

 

Launched November 1 in conjunction with National Homeless Youth Awareness Month, the website details services offered by each of the four agencies along with maps and contact information. The agencies assist youth with a variety of services, including short- and long-term housing, counseling, peer groups, educational assistance, job training and more.

 

For more information, visit www.rhyregionalalliance.org or email [email protected]. 

 

Runaway & Homeless Youth Regional Alliance is a collaborative effort of four non-profit agencies in southeast Michigan:  Alternatives for Girls, Common Ground, Ruth Ellis Center and Starfish Family Services. The RHY Regional Alliance is dedicated to providing safe places where youth can get food, shelter and short- and long-term support to help them become self-sufficient and live independently. The Alliance is funded by United Way of Southeast Michigan. For more information, visit www.rhyregionalalliance.org.