This November, HRDC’s Blueprint program will celebrate five years. Blueprint’s transition home opened in November 2015 to offer a safe and inclusive space for youth ages 16-20 experiencing temporary homelessness.
Blueprint is a strengths-based program designed to provide a short-term solution for youth experiencing moments of homelessness in the Gallatin Valley. The program is designed to build on strengths, as it supports youth in educational attainment, housing stability and sustainable employment. Often times, family challenges, economic instability, and residential instability are the causes of youth homelessness. In its five years, 82% of youth have transitioned out of Blueprint and in to stable housing.
On Thursday, November 7th, HRDC will host an event to celebrate the community’s support over the last five years. Blueprint is 100% community funded, and could not support youth experiencing temporary homelessness without the generosity of many donors and organizations in the Gallatin Valley. Beginning at 5pm, the event will occur at HRDC’s Main Office, 32 S Tracy, in Bozeman.
As a generous support of HRDC’s youth programs, Bozeman’s Sunrise Rotary is contributing a $25,000 matching gift. Sunrise Rotary partnered with Blueprint early, committing over $35,000 to the program. Last fall, Rotary and Rotaract members constructed two new decks and installed a new dishwasher and microwave. This summer, Rotary supported efforts to create a new bathroom for Blueprint tenants.
“Bozeman Sunrise Rotary Club is a group of leaders, innovators, and driven advocates for our community. Their financial support has been crucial to keeping youth housed. Most notable, however, is their advocacy for youth experiencing homelessness in our community,” says Jeremy Alcoke, HRDC’s Youth Development.
For more information about HRDC’s Blueprint or any other HRDC program or service visit www.thehrdc.org. •
