The Lehigh Valley Community Foundation staff and Board of Governors wanted to “spark” your interest in their 50th anniversary celebration in 2017 by announcing a year of special grant making! As part of the Spark grant making Valley Youth House received a $2,500 grant as a finalist in the Food and Housing Access category.

There is currently no programming in the Lehigh Valley to address the unmet needs of the region’s LGBTQ+ youth who are homeless or unstably housed. This spark will allow us to hire a housing counselor to conduct housing workshops, connect unstably housed LGBTQ+ youth to community agencies; provide emergency assistance funds to youth at risk of eviction; and start-up rental funds and support for LGBTQ+ youth to live independently.

With the help of funding from the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation, Valley Youth House is poised to spark the change that will transform the lives of homeless LGBTQ+ youth across the Lehigh Valley. And thank you to the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation for choosing the LGBTQ Inclusive Youth Housing program as a finalist in the Spark Grant for Food & Housing Access! Thank you and happy birthday, LVCF!