Our Team

A Youth-Centered, 
Community-Based
Approach

Community is at the heart of our work. When young people walk through our doors, they’re welcomed into a caring community that accepts them for who they are. It’s a space where they can connect with peers, look beyond the moment-to-moment challenges of homelessness, and take steps to pursue their goals and dreams.

Our ultimate goal is to end youth homelessness, one young person at a time — and in the process — create a better world for everyone.

JEDI VISION

We recognize homelessness as a social, racial, and economic justice issue. Through this lens, we are resolute in our commitment to uplift all young people impacted by homelessness while rigorously, continuously, and concretely aligning our trauma-informed service delivery and organizational framework with our guiding principles of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI).

Anti-racist & LGBTQ+ Affirming: We acknowledge and condemn racism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, ableism, and all forms of oppression.

Confront Systems of Oppression: We seek to address the consequences of systemic oppression.

Create Equitable Opportunities: We are devoted to consistently reformulating and adjusting our programs to ensure young peoples’ fullness of identities and experiences are met with dignity, compassion, and care.

Disrupt & Dismantle Racism: We proactively name, address, disrupt, and dismantle racism and discrimination — both within our own organization and in all systems that impact the wellbeing of the young people we serve. 

Our Values

We create community and change through our core values:

• My Friend's Place is a community that centers young people impacted by homelessness. 
• My Friend's Place honors shared humanity to foster a sense of safety and belonging.
• My Friend's Place is a space for connection and transformation. 
• My Friend's Place commits to advancing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

OUR SERVICE PRINCIPLES

We build trust with young people based on seven principles central to our service model:

1. Judgment Free: We believe in creating a haven for young people where they can be themselves and choose the services most important to them at the moment.
2. Human Worth: We see the young people that we serve as people who have inherent value to society.
3. Trust: We build trust over time between our staff and the people we serve.
4. Individualized Response: We welcome each person who walks through our doors as an individual with specific needs and goals.
5. Safety First Response: We follow a set of strategies and approaches aimed at minimizing the harm and negative consequences of high-risk behaviors and activities.
6. Strength-based: We focus on the inherent strengths, abilities, assets, capabilities, and potential of the young people we serve.
7. Low-barrier: We minimize obstacles for young people to access our facility and services. Everyone is welcome, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or background.