Education & Employment
“The fact that someone was investing in me and my future meant so much to me. I never really had people do that. It made me feel special, like someone believed in me and the work that I was doing.” - Samantha, SPY Youth
SPY’s Education & Employment (E&E) Program, equips youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness with the tools, opportunities, and support needed to pursue sustainable employment, access education, and achieve personal stability. Rooted in trauma-informed care and individualized goal-setting, the E&E Program removes systemic barriers and builds pathways to long-term success.
Youth have access to job readiness prep, workforce development opportunities, a youth internship program, and pathways to college enrollment or vocational training. SPY's Community Garden is also a part of this program, utilizing a paid internship to teach youth direct employment experience.
Education and employment are significant barriers for youth trying to exit the street. SPY’s Education and Employment program provides resume building, mock interviewing, life skills workshops, job and education application guidance, and networking opportunities through a trauma-informed, three-tiered approach.
