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Be Involved at IHYC!
Volunteer Opportunities Internships Donations
Iowa Homeless Youth Centers relies on the generous support of volunteers within the community to assist homeless teens into a life of self-sufficiency. Each year, IHYC assists nearly 1,000 youth access emergency shelter, community resources, transitional living and aftercare services. We believe that sharing your time and talents as a volunteer can help make each day a little better for the homeless youth and families that we serve and help ensure each youth's needs are being met by our staff.
For more information on Volunteering or Donations, please contact:
Toni Nicol, Volunteer & Events Coordinator at 515-265-1222 or by email.
How YOU Can Help End Homelessness
You can help end homelessness by being Committed to Our CAUSE.
C - Contribute
A- Advocate
U- Understand
S- Serve
E - Educate
CONTRIBUTE
While the concern and support demonstrated by volunteer work and advocacy are essential, material assistance is also a necessity. Donate today.
Needed items and services might include:
- Monetary Donation. Monetary donations can come once per year or every month. Your pledge to IHYC will ensure youth will have the tools needed for their education and employment goals.
- In-Kind Donations. In-kind donations are always accepted. A full list of our in-kind needs are available. Hygiene Supplies, Non-Perishable Foods and Home Goods are our greatest needs.
- Support for a homeless person or family. As people move out of a shelter or transitional housing program, consider raising money to contribute for a security deposit, or assist by contributing household goods and non-perishable foods.
- Raise funds for a program. Help raise funds for IHYC programs through donation and monetary drives, host a garage sale or event with proceeds coming back to IHYC.
ADVOCATE
Advocacy is critical to creating the systemic changes needed to end homelessness. Advocacy means working with people experiencing homelessness to bring about positive changes in policies and programs on the local, state, and federal levels. It means working with various sectors of the community (e.g. city/county officials, members of Congress, direct service providers, and the business community) to develop workable strategies for responding to homelessness.
Here are some ways you might help:
- Get connected to a coalition and follow local politics. Volunteer at your local, state, or national housing or homeless advocacy coalition, or make a financial contribution to support their work. Attend neighborhood and public meetings and speak up in favor of low-income housing, group homes, shelters, and homelessness prevention programs. Work to educate our local leaders.
- Encourage people experiencing homelessness to vote. The “You Don’t Need A Home to Vote” nonpartisan voter registration/education/get-out-the-vote campaign occurs nationwide each election cycle. Find out how you can lobby for homeless voting rights written policy or law in your state.
- Sponsor a Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. During National Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week, coordinate a group effort to volunteer at a local soup kitchen, donate food items to a homeless transitional facility or support homeless youth programs.
UNDERSTAND
There are many misconceptions when it comes to homelessness and homeless youth. One way you can help is by changing your language and behaviors in small ways that may contribute to larger changes in the way people experiencing homelessness are seen and treated in our society.
Ways you can help:
· Research. In 2010, there were over 18,000 homeless in the state of Iowa and over 32,000 considered near homeless. Research who is homeless in your area.
· Know the Reasons. Many people believe that all homeless choose this lifestyle. At IHYC, we know that this is not always the case. Youth become homeless for many reasons. Reach out and ask homeless service providers what they are seeing.
· Be Non-Judgmental. Our Street Outreach Center meets youth where they are at. We feel youth need supports in place before they can make a successful move from homelessness to independent living. Encourage yourself to think about what you would do if you became homeless before you judge a homeless person for being in that situation.
SERVE
Serving or volunteering your time to work directly with people experiencing homelessness is one of the best ways to learn about homelessness and help to meet immediate needs at the same time. IHYC has many volunteer opportunities for both groups and individuals. Remember that we need help at all times of the year—not just holidays—and we appreciate regular volunteers who can be counted on to show up.
Here are some ways you might help:
- Become a mentor for a young adult: Provide one-on-one time with a youth, being a mentor and a positive role model in their lives. Help them achieve their goals by being a continuous support!
- Help by Tutoring: Education is a major goal at Buchanan , Lighthouse and the Aftercare Program. Volunteers are needed to assist the youth in their studies of basic GED readiness skills, high school, and college level work.
- Serve a Meal Plan, prepare and serve a meal at one of our residential or outreach programs. Meals could be for 8 individuals or up to 45 people.
- Work with Children. Volunteers can provide childcare at the Lighthouse during the women’s parenting and life skill classes on Thursday evenings. After childcare- interaction with the families can take place.
- Host a Day of Caring. Gather a group of friends or family. IHYC has three centers that can always use help on a monthly basis with deep cleaning, organizing and more.
EDUCATE
Educate the Community! It only takes one person to educate someone. Look through the YSS/IHYC Website to find the most up-to-date statistics of homelessness in Iowa. Be the voice for the many homeless youth we see in Iowa.
How you can help:
· Attend Reggie’s Sleepout. Reggie’s Sleepout takes place annually in October or November. Reggie’s Sleepout is geared to give an educational experience to learn more about youth homelessness in Iowa, as well as raise funds for IHYC programs to help youth successfully transition into independent living. More information can be found at www.reggiessleepout.org
· Invite IHYC staff to talk to your group. IHYC staff and youth are more than willing to come to you to educate you and all others about IHYC programs and youth homelessness in Iowa.
- Involve others! Encourage your classmates, co-workers, church/synagogue members, or civic club to join or support your efforts.
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