Safe Place for Youth

SPY’s Youth Paid Internship Program is an innovative, trauma-informed workforce development initiative that equips youth experiencing homelessness with skills to pursue careers in social services and nonprofit work, building the next generation of community-rooted leaders. Youth interns work across SPY’s service areas, providing youth with 200 hours of job training at $20/hour, building job skills, developing confidence, and moving toward long-term economic stability, while creating pathways to personal empowerment and community leadership.

Safe Place for Youth’s Healing Arts Program ensures that youth experiencing homelessness develop the resources, skills, and partnerships they need to join the creative economy. The program supports underrepresented youth-artists and entrepreneurs, often facing health and employment barriers and from marginalized communities. They receive free weekly art workshops, music lessons, access to a digital arts lab, paid internships, on-the-job training, and e-commerce platforms, along with wrap-around support (housing, meals, counseling, etc.).

Research shows that 20% of youth exiting foster care will experience homelessness within 4 years. SPY’s Emergency Housing Program, Stepping Stones, disrupts this pipeline with immediate shelter, meals, wrap-around services and connections to permanent housing for youth exiting the system without housing and others at risk. Partnering with DCFS, SPY prevents experiences of homelessness for youth and connects them to additional SPY services including education & employment, medical and mental health care, and housing, ensuring stability.