We know that living on your own is not easy.
Don't go it alone. We can help.

"When we're at the Youth Outreach office we are at home. It's the one place where we can be ourselves. It's like our family."

Youth Outreach is about you and your goals. You decide what kind of help you want:

Housing. Finding it, keeping it, paying for it. Ask staff about our Housing Scholarship Program that covers rent and utilities while you finish school or work towards a better job. Food. Affording it. Where to get free food. How to prepare it in a healthy and economical way. Jobs. Preparing for one, finding one, keeping one, finding a better one. Ask staff about our paid job training-earn money while learning a skill and gaining job experience through our Apprenticeship Program. Education. Finishing high school, getting a GED, starting college. Parenting. Learning about how a child grows, how to discipline, how to be a great parent. Personal living supplies. Getting emergency supplies from diapers and toothpaste, to alarm clocks and laundry detergent. Community Services. Connecting with the services and resources you need to help meet your goals.

Working with you to meet your needs.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How can Youth Outreach help me?
Youth Outreach staff can help you figure out how to solve the problems you are facing. They can meet with you at our office, at your house, or out in the community. Staff are willing to accompany you to meetings with people-a parent, landlord, school staff, employer, Section 8, Department of Social Services staff, etc. Often, there are resources that staff know about that can help you solve the problem. Youth Outreach is also a place where you can stop by to chat with staff or other participants, use the phone or the computer lab, or join some of our group workshops (we have a Women's Group, Stress-reduction workshops, parenting workshops, art workshops and more). You are welcome to attend recreational activities like picnics, bowling, movies, basketball and so on. The questions that follow describe many of the ways we can help.

Can you help me find a place to live?
If you do not have housing, staff can help you look for housing, apply for Section 8 vouchers or public assistance, or get into the emergency shelter. They can help you figure out if you have the money to afford a particular place.

If you are being evicted from your housing, staff can help you talk to your landlord to see if there is a way to avoid eviction. If you are evicted, staff can help you find new housing and solve the problems that led to the eviction.

You can apply to participate in our Housing Scholarship Program. If you are selected to be in the Scholarship Program, we find you an apartment and The Learning Web pays your rent and utilities while you finish school and/or work at your job. The scholarship allows you to concentrate on finishing school or working towards a better job rather than struggling to pay your rent to keep your housing. There are requirements for scholarship participants that can be explained to you by Youth Outreach staff.

Can you find me a job?
We can help you look for a job and in some cases, we can offer you a paid apprenticeship that will help you get the skills and experience to get a job on your own.

Help finding a job or finding a better paying job includes helping you learn how to put together a job resume, know where to look for jobs, fill out applications for a job, practice for job interviews, and connect with other local resources that can help you find jobs. Once you find the job, staff can help support you in keeping your job and gaining promotions.

Youth Outreach has a computer lab that you can use to search for jobs or prepare a resume. Staff offer workshops that can help you brush up on job hunting skills.

What is an apprenticeship and how does it work?
An apprenticeship is a way you can get job training and experience that will help you find a job later on. You work at a business with a mentor, your supervisor, who teaches you all the skills needed to work at your job. Youth Outreach staff will talk to you about the kind of work you would like to do and will find a business that matches your interest area. You are paid by The Learning Web for the work you do as an apprentice. Sometimes your mentor will have a regular job opening and like your work so much that you are hired after your apprenticeship. This is totally up to your mentor and is not guaranteed. Mentors can be a great reference when you are applying for other jobs.

An apprenticeship is never full time work. Usually, you start out working 10 hours per week and as you get more experience, your hours may increase to a maximum of 20 hours per week. You will be paid the current minimum wage for your apprenticeship work.

Can you help me enroll in school?
Yes, we can help you fill out forms, join you when meeting with school staff, help fill out financial aid applications etc. You can use our computer lab to apply to school, financial aid, or to do homework assignments. We also can help you study for the GED test.

I need basic supplies like food, toothpaste, etc. and I can't pay for them-can you help?
We can let you know how to use the local food pantries and where you can get a meal each day. We have a limited amount of personal hygiene supplies that are given out for emergencies. We can help you apply for public assistance support so that you can pay for necessities. We can also help you find a job that will help pay for your living expenses in the long term.

Is it OK for me to bring my kids to the Youth Outreach office or to meetings with staff?
Yes, we welcome your kids and have toys and activities that you can occupy your kids with while you meet with staff. We also have a parenting group that you can join to learn more about what to expect as your child grows and techniques to help you be a great parent.

download your time sheet

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Getting Help

If you are having an emergency and need police, fire or ambulance immediately,
Call 911

If you cannot find the information you need on our on-line resources page, call 211 - a phone information service that provides referrals to, and information about, health, human, and government services. 211 can help you find out where to get the information you need.

Dial: 2-1-1 or 1-877-211-8667 toll free

www.211tompkins.org

For a list of other On-line resources click here.