Our mission is to support young adults (18-25) in Berkeley who are currently homeless. We provide basic necessities, offer case management and counseling, linkages to education, employment and housing, and opportunities for meaningful community involvement.

YEAH! assists homeless young people in these ways:

• Provides relief from the stress of living on the street
• Creates a community of friendship and mutual support
• Encourages the identification of personal goals and the exploration of alternatives to street life

Berkeley’s homeless population is estimated to be 1,200, about 225 of whom are youth aged 18 to 25. Three quarters are male and 54% Caucasian. In interviews 85% said they are local, 73% self-reported active drug or alcohol use, 36% indicated they have mental health problems, half have not graduated from high school, and 79% have no source of income. Thirty-seven percent have lived in foster care, fifteen and a half is the average age at which they became homeless, and the average length of time they’ve been homeless is 2.5 years. Since homeless youth often keep pets for companionship, we make efforts to accommodate them.

The information above can be found on the official website of YEAH – Youth Engagement, Advocacy, and Housing. For more details about the organization and to find out how you can volunteer, please visit their website: http://www.yeah-berkeley.org