Lost-n-Found Youth aims to end the cycle of homelessness for Atlanta’s young LGBTQIA+ population

Atlanta nonprofit Covenant House reports that more than 3,000 young people in the city have been or are currently homeless. Of these people, 40% identify as LGBTQIA+.

Lost-n-Found Youth, a local nonprofit, wants to help provide this population with options to escape homelessness. The organization provides LGBTQIA+ people ages 18-25 with the skills and resources they need to escape the cycle of homelessness with end-to-end services through their staff and community partners .

“These young people need all the help they can get,” said Melanea Alvarez, executive director of Lost-n-Found. “Someone who’s not going to stand there and judge.”

Homelessness is not a new problem in Atlanta. Mayor Andre Dickens signed an executive order this year to spend $4.6 million to help the homeless population. Alvarez believes this ordinance moves the city in a positive direction, but “it’s not a solution that works for everyone.” She thinks leaders have been putting a band-aid on homelessness for a very long time.

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One of the initiatives the city is working on is a mentoring program for LGBTQIA+ people aged 16 to 25, where “mentors will provide guidance, support and a nurturing environment to mentees,” said Gabrielle Slade, director Atlanta Equity Associate.

While the city works on multiple initiatives to build community, children still struggle to find and maintain shelter. Lost-N-Found provides emergency and transitional housing in the form of a safe place to stay for up to 90 days. The organization teaches job skills and helps find employment. They also connect young people to mental health services.

LGBTQAI+ youth are 120% more likely to experience homelessness than their peers, and they face discrimination in schools, as well as in the job and housing markets. In 2019, more than 70% of Georgian students experienced at least one form of sexuality-related discrimination at school and 25% of students heard homophobic comments from staff.

“A lot of these kids barely made it through high school,” Alvarez said.

An active support system has been put in place by Lost-N-Found to combat this discrimination. Lost-N-Found aims to empower youth and break the cycle of homelessness through mentorship, alumni support networks, and programs focused on future workforce preparation. They have eight faith leaders in the community.

“They’re always doing activities,” said Sara Wilkin, an organizer who is currently volunteering her time to renovate the pantry. “They always have fundraisers. They are still present in the community.

Lost-n-Found emphasizes that while they are dedicated to ending homelessness, they are not a shelter.

“Most homeless shelters provide a bed and maybe some food and expect you to fend for yourself,” Kimberly, a Lost-n-Found “graduate,” said. in an interview after the organization helped her get back on her feet. “When I was at Lost-N-Found…everything I needed was accessible, or someone had it for me.”

Alvarez said solving homelessness starts with creating housing opportunities.

“Get people off the streets,” Alvarez said. “Put them in a state of mind where they are protected. They may feel empowered to make decisions. They may feel like they are beginning to control their lives.

People that Lost-n-Found has helped in the past begin to come back and help others. Lost-N-Found sends monthly newsletters to continue the conversation even after youth leave their program. A conversation between two Lost-n-Found “graduates” inspired “The Box,” a video about the downsides of being put in a box or category, focusing on building a world “where everyone has a home.”

Lost-n-Found is open to volunteer opportunities through its Street Outreach Program, Youth House and Youth Center. Their thrift store, where 42% of their funding comes from, is open to the public at varying hours throughout the week and accepts new and used products from the community.