Expanding to serve 20 more U.S. communities
Point Source Youth, a nonprofit that helps local partners in 30 communities fight to prevent youth homelessness, is preparing to meet a key organizational goal by expanding its work into 20 more communities across the country.
The New York City-based outfit does not provide services directly, but rather helps existing local organizations – some urban, some rural – that offer at-risk youth rapid re-housing, direct cash transfers, short-term host homes and family and kinship strengthening, including chosen families.
The organization, which first filed with the IRS as a nonprofit in 2015, has a goal of serving 50 cities and 10 rural towns by 2025. According to its 2018 filing, the most recent available, the organization took in revenue of $1.35 million, up from about $822,000 the previous year.
It is currently searching for a deputy executive director, a national director of programs, an associate director (East) and an associate director for design.
Founder and Executive Director Larry Cohen declined to provide details about how Point Source was able to come up with money for its expansion, which includes plans to hire for three new senior positions and to fill an existing role, which will bring the organization up to 13 employees.
Cohen said its work is more critical than ever as vulnerable youth the nation deal with the devastating effects of the coronavirus pandemic, severe underfunding of public health and “the structural violence that creates and enshrines youth homelessness.”
Studies show that youth of color – especially LGBTQ+ youth — are disproportionately prone to homelessness.
