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The Night Ministryoffers shelter, health care, and social services, and more to unhoused people of all ages in Chicago. Their youth-focused programming began nearly 30 years ago, and they have been a Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) grantee for that same time. The National Clearinghouse on Homeless Youth and Families (NCHYF) spoke to Betsy Carlson, MSW, The Night Ministry’s director of youth programs, to learn about their work and the way it has changed since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis.

As we approach the start of the 2020-21 school year, it’s safe to say that this will be a very different back-to-school season. For homeless and at-risk youth, education instability during the COVID-19 pandemic has been especially devastating. On July 23, 2020, the National Clearinghouse on Homeless Youth and Families (NCHYF) hosted a live panel discussion to explore how Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) grantees, youth service organizations, and education professionals can work together to ensure homeless youth get the help and services they need during the upcoming school year.

As the country begins to reopen after months of COVID-19 closures, every state looks a little different. There are several common considerations that all youth service organizations should know as normal activity slowly resumes. Fortunately, there are federal guidelines for the phases which can help your organization prepare and tap into resources to learn more.

What to Know for Your Organization

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers guidance on how COVID-19 spreads and what symptoms look like, which is essential to prevention and safety. There are several ways that youth homelessness service providers can prepare and protect both staff and youth.