The SPY Report is our dedicated blog and storytelling hub, offering a deeper look into the daily work of preventing and ending youth homelessness. From frontline program updates to critical advocacy alerts, we use this space to highlight the systemic issues affecting our youth and the innovative solutions we are building to solve them.
Youth housing success
How to support our newest housing site
SPY at the Hollywood Bowl
Notice to communications changes
On the week of her 25th birthday, Joseline arrived in Washington, D.C., preparing to advocate for her community.
Ways to support our new housing site
Exciting youth successes
Youth leadership in advocacy
A letter directly from our youth
On one October morning in 2025, I decided it was time to make a change.
I was struggling with depression, overwhelmed by poverty and unemployment, and I found it hard to get out of bed each day. I told myself I would start small, so I sat on the porch of the shelter where I was staying and did my hair in the sunshine. It was a small act of care for myself but it led to a conversation that changed the trajectory of my life.
The Big Huge Canvas, a 5x3ft collaborative multi-media art piece, hangs against the main wall of our Drop-In Center’s open work area. This space functions as the living room, where members can work independently on computers, meet with staff, read, study, listen to music, socialize, etc. It only feels right to perch this piece, that so many hands have touched, above the hypothetical mantle.
Read MoreAt Safe Place for Youth (SPY), volunteers provide more than just a helping hand. Our volunteers provide community to our members built on care, compassion, and connection. Whether they're serving a warm meal, beautifying the community garden, or leading a workshop, SPY volunteers are part of a deeply empathetic mission: to support young people navigating the challenges of homelessness and help them build brighter futures.
Read MoreAt Safe Place for Youth (SPY), every young person who walks through our doors is met with caring staff, expansive programs, and opportunities to grow. We know that our youth may be navigating various challenges, whether it be trauma, life-transitions, or housing instability, our Clinical Program is one of the many vital ways we provide both immediate and long-term support.
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