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The Problem

Youth homelessness is our community’s most entrenched social issue, hidden under borrowed roofs and behind tired eyes. Every year, more than 62,000 children throughout Arizona find themselves displaced and unaccompanied through no fault of their own, ranking our state as the fifth worst state nationwide for child homelessness. Even more disheartening, homeless youth are four times more likely to drop out of school and twice as likely to become unemployable adults trapped in poverty. Without the safety and stability of a home, these vulnerable kids fall through the cracks and cannot receive the services they need in order to survive.

Our Solution

Youth On Their Own – a 501(c)(3) dropout prevention agency – strives to eliminate these barriers to education and empower Arizona’s homeless youth to stay in school. For over 30 years, we have supported the high school graduation of this unique demographic by providing financial assistance, basic human needs, and one-on-one guidance. With the help of our supporters nationwide, we have empowered over 16,000 homeless youth to remain in school and pursue opportunities for self-sufficiency.

How You Can Help

Support Our Home Store

Youth On Their Own’s Resale Home Store is a boutique specializing in the sale of new and gently loved home goods items, with proceeds benefiting Youth On Their Own.

The store is also home to YOTO’s student internship program, which provides YOTO juniors and seniors with relevant job experience and the soft skills they need to gain and hold meaningful employment after graduation. 100% of your purchase will help kids caught in poverty, abuse, and abandonment to stay in school and ultimately graduate.

Spread the Holiday Cheer

The holidays can be a lonely time for the youth in our program… so this holiday season, we are going to change that! Our goal is to provide every YOTO student with a $20 Walmart gift card and a new blanket/throw for the holidays. As December nears, we’re on target to surpass 1,200 youth. We need YOUR help! Together, we can remind these young people that someone out there cares.

Success Stories