2023 New Year Reflection
Do you remember Alicia's story we shared back in August? She was between shelters, abandoned houses, and spending nights on the streets. It took over a year of compiling documentation, meeting with housing providers, and overcoming barriers before she finally received housing.
Last week I received an update on Alicia. She is doing well! She is meeting new people, engaging in programs, and enjoying the peace that comes with having a consistent place to call home. This story is so symbolic of our work. We are all about creating consistent and safe relationships with youth facing homelessness.
So, why not be satisfied that we served 762 youth this year? Why is Outreach poised to take on more growth? The answer can be found in our values. This past year we rolled out a new set of values, and one of those values is Growth Mindset. We know that no one is a finished product, and growth requires change and willingness to meet new challenges with curiosity, creativity, and commitment.
In 2023, we provided food, clothing, laundry, coaching, housing, and stable relationships to nearly 800 youth, but we only served 10% of youth experiencing homelessness in Indianapolis. A Growth Mindset requires us to evaluate ourselves and ask God to direct us forward.
That is why I am excited for the vision that God has given us in 2024. Next year we will be:
expanding our ARCH program to serve more students facing homelessness. We will start serving Marion County charter and Hamilton County high schools, marking our first expansion outside of Indianapolis
opening a program center on the Near Westside
developing a client database to best evaluate our programs and showcase their effectiveness
developing a Coach Training Program for youth workers in any context to equip them to adopt Outreach best practices
This year, we celebrated so many milestones as an organization and the amazing achievements of youth, but there is more to be done. There are more youth like Alicia that need our services. This is the Growth Mindset that we will carry into 2024, and I hope that you will continue in this journey. Your prayers, support, donations, and time volunteered sustain us.
