For those who missed my 12 Days of Charity post, well, head on over and check it out! I had a few extra charitable organizations that I became aware of too late to include in the list, or that were included in a previous list but that I wanted to give an extra boost this year.
The Homeless Youth Alliance in San Francisco is facing eviction from its storefront drop-in center location on Haight Street. The current landlord is ending the center’s lease so it can renovate the space into much higher-cost housing and retail shops. The center serves up to 150 people per day, providing counseling services, showers, and referrals to housing, mental health, and drug treatment programs. They’re currently looking for new space, but it’s especially tough considering how expensive real estate is in the city.
Closer to home for me, Lost-N-Found Youth provides housing and services to homeless LGBT youth in the Atlanta area. LNF has set up a gift registry online so you see exactly what they need and have it shipped to the center. This close to Christmas, it might be best to donate money, but still, it’s pretty awesome to see how many things on the list have already been purchased!
Finally, a friend of mine brought my attention to The Women’s Prison Association, a 160-year-old nonprofit that offers programs for formerly and currently incarcerated women and women who might be at risk for incarceration. One of the organization’s biggest successes is the alternative to incarceration program. From the website: “WPA provides direct assistance to approximately 2,500 women and their families each year. We offer an integrated continuum of services to criminal justice-involved women in response to five key areas of need: livelihood, housing, family, health and well-being, and criminal justice compliance.”
shaeconnorwrites 