Connections in Stockton

One in five homeless adults experience homelessness during childhood.  One in eight youth under the age of 18 will leave home and become homeless.

Connections provides up to two years of transitional housing for homeless youth between the ages of 16 and 24.  To qualify for the program all youth must be legally emancipated, have or be working towards a GED/high school equivalency, and have an income/employment within 60 days.  The programs provide flexible, responsive and accessible case management, allowing youth to focus on becoming self-sufficient.  Specialized services include:  individual and group life skills classes (financial literacy, nutrition, relationship building); parenting/child development education; job readiness, placement and support; social skills development (anger management, problem resolution, communication); and group recreational opportunities.

Homeless youth do not readily accept help.  Building rapport with them is a key factor in assisting them in development of successful life transitioning strategies.  Trust is our most valuable commodity an allows us to build each youths self-esteem, self-respect, and self sufficiency.  Staff work to meet youths basic physical and emotional needs while identifying and connecting each youth to community resources.

Connections seeks to prevent a return to homelessness by fostering the youths’ personal and economic self-sufficiency through strengthening the youths own support system and desire to manifest the abilities they have within.

“Thank you for your help in making dreams come true! Lutheran Social Services helps me learn the skills I need to grow into the person I want to become.”