On April 10th, Kathy Farland from Stepping Stones, addressed the Rotary Club of Nashua regarding the work of Stepping Stones. Stepping Stones provides needed services for youth facing homelessness in the Greater Nashua Area. Youth ages they service are anyone under 26 years old.
Kathy talked about the causes that have led many of their younger youths at the center to become homeless. Physical and sexual abuse, orphaned by parents for things like gender identity and sexual preference, young mothers unable to make ends meet, are just some of the reasons youths face. 70% of youths’ homelessness is because of abuse and felt they rather would be homeless then stay in their abusive home. Aging out of foster care is another reason many become homeless.
The abuse many of these youths have endured has led to long term effects. Many are diagnosed with depression, anxiety, PTSD. Stepping Stones find many are lacking basic life skills such as counting, reading, and writing. Kathy explains the longer you are homeless, the more likely you will turn to drugs also.
The goal of Stepping Stones is to meet the basic needs of the homeless youths that come to their center. Things like clothes, meals, lockers if needed, Wi-Fi. Helping with documents (birth certificates, IDs) is a necessity for these kids to get jobs and start moving towards their goals. Most feedback from the youth that are served is having the support, hope, and encouragement from Stepping Stones is vital to their success.
Kathy spoke of their new project. A recently signed lease for a dorm building at Daniel Webster College. The dorm will create a 3 level program to self sufficiency for these youths to avoid homelessness in the future. A independent living environment with services provided for getting GEDs, career planning, and employment.
For more info please visit Stepping Stones website at steppingstonesnh.org