BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS INC

RESIDENTIAL SERVICES PROGRAMS:HOUSING - BRIDGE PROVIDES BOTH SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND INDEPENDENT HOUSING OPTIONS, DEPENDING ON EACH INDIVIDUAL YOUTH'S LEVEL OF INDEPENDENCE AND NEEDS. BRIDGE ALSO HELPS YOUTH IN NEW HOUSING, SETTING THEM UP WITH COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND PROVIDING THEM WITH ONGOING ASSISTANCE AS THEY MAKE THE TRANSITION TO STABLE HOUSING.THE TRANSITIONAL LIVING PROGRAM PROVIDES HOUSING, LIFE-SKILLS TRAINING, AND SUPPORT TO HOMELESS YOUTH, AGES 17 TO 21. YOUTH LIVE AMONG THEIR PEERS WHILE THEY LEARN HOW TO SET GOALS AND WORK TOWARD THEM WHILE FOCUSING ON DAILY ROUTINES THAT MAY INCLUDE WORK, SCHOOL, HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT, SHARED MEALS AND A REGULAR CALENDAR OF COMMUNITY EVENTS. ALL RESIDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO THE SERVICES AT BRIDGE. THE EMERGENCY RESIDENCE PROGRAM PROVIDES HOUSING, LIFE-SKILLS TRAINING AND SUPPORT TO HOMELESS YOUTH AGES 22 TO 24. YOUTH LIVE AMONG THEIR PEERS WHILE THEY LEARN HOW TO SET GOALS AND WORK TOWARD THEM WHILE FOCUSING ON DAILY ROUTINES THAT MAY INCLUDE WORK, SCHOOL, HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT, SHARED MEALS AND A REGULAR CALENDAR OF COMMUNITY EVENTS. ALL RESIDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO ALL SERVICES AT BRIDGE. SINGLE PARENT HOUSE (MATERNAL GROUP HOME) - HOUSING FOR YOUNG, PREGNANT AND PARENTING YOUNG ADULTS, AGES 18 TO 21, AND THEIR CHILDREN, WHILE THEY ADVANCE THEIR EDUCATIONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GOALS. YOUNG PARENTS LIVE AMONG THEIR PEERS WHILE THEY LEARN THE LIFE SKILLS NEEDED TO SUCCESSFULLY MANAGE AND SUSTAIN THEIR OWN HOUSEHOLDS AND RAISE HEALTHY CHILDREN. MOTHERS PARTICIPATE IN PARENTING EDUCATION AND GROUPS ON HEALTH, NUTRITION, AND NURTURING CARE. ALL RESIDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO ALL SERVICES AT BRIDGE. INDEPENDENT HOUSING - YOUTH IN BRIDGE'S LIBERTY HOUSE AND RAPID RE-HOUSING PROGRAM HAVE ACCESS TO CASE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT WHILE THEY DEVELOP SKILLS FOR LIVING INDEPENDENTLY IN THEIR OWN SPACE.

PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION; AND EMERGENCY SERVICES:BRIDGE'S PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION SERVICES REACH THE LARGEST NUMBER OF BOSTON'S HOMELESS, AT-RISK, AND RUNAWAY YOUTH POSSIBLE, PROVIDING SAFE ACCESS POINTS FOR YOUTH TO CONNECT WITH HELP, AND PREVENTING RUNAWAYS AND HOMELESSNESS WHENEVER POSSIBLE. THIS IS THE FIRST LINE OF CONTACT BETWEEN YOUTH AND BRIDGE, SO IT IS IMPORTANT TO PROVIDE A WELCOMING, WARM, AND SAFE CONTACT FROM THE START.STREET OUTREACH AND MOBILE MEDICAL VAN - YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS CONNECT WITH TRAINED OUTREACH WORKERS IN GREATER BOSTON FOR SURVIVAL AID AND AN INITIAL CONNECTION TO BRIDGE. TRAINED OUTREACH WORKERS CANVASS THE CITY ON FOOT, VISITING PLACES WHERE YOUTH ARE KNOWN TO GATHER, AS WELL AS CHECKING HOTSPOTS SUCH AS T STOPS AND PARKS.ON THE MOBILE MEDICAL VAN, YOUTH ACCESS ESSENTIALS INCLUDING SURVIVAL AID AND MEDICAL CARE AND START TO BUILD TRUST WITH THE BRIDGE TEAM. THE MOBILE MEDICAL VAN TEAM MEMBERS CONNECT WITH YOUTH ON THE BOSTON COMMON, IN CAMBRIDGE, AND OTHER AREAS OF BOSTON WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE KNOWN TO GATHER. VOLUNTEER MEDICAL STAFF OFFER YOUNG ADULTS FREE BASIC FIRST AID, REFERRALS TO HEALTH CARE AND HEALTH ADVICE, AS WELL AS ACCESS TO CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICES INCLUDING EMERGENCY SHELTER, HYGIENE ITEMS, SOCKS, AND CLOTHES), ASSESSMENT, COUNSELING AND EDUCATION. TRANSITIONAL DAY AND WELCOME CENTER - TRANSITIONAL DAY SERVICES OFFER HOMELESS YOUTH A HOT MEAL, SHOWERS, LOCKERS, AND ACCESS TO LAUNDRY, CONNECT WITH CASE MANAGERS, AND PARTICIPATE IN WORKSHOPS. THE PROGRAM OFFERS BREAKFAST AND LUNCH, AS WELL AS A SAFE AND COMFORTABLE SPACE TO RELAX, READ, USE COMPUTERS, AND CONNECT WITH FRIENDS AND STAFF. EVERY NIGHT AT 6:00 PM, THE SPACE IS RECONFIGURED AS THE WELCOME CENTER PROVIDING HOMELESS YOUTH WITH DINNER, COTS, WARMTH, AND SAFETY WITH AN OVERNIGHT CASE MANAGER.RUNAWAY SERVICES - BRIDGE IS THE LOCAL RESPONDENT FOR THE NATIONAL RUNAWAY HOTLINE (1-800-RUNAWAY), OFFERING 24-HOUR ACCESS TO A COUNSELOR AND A SAFE BED OFF THE STREETS FOR YOUTH 14 TO 17 YEARS OLD WHO HAVE RUN AWAY FROM HOME AND ARE IN CRISIS.