YOUTH ON THEIR OWN

YOUTH ON THEIR OWN SUPPORTS THE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION AND CONTINUED SUCCESS OF YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN PIMA COUNTY. OUR VISION IS THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ON THEIR OWN ARE EMPOWERED AND ENGAGED COMMUNITY MEMBERS. YOTO PRIMARILY SERVES YOUTH IN GRADES 6-12 WHO ATTEND SCHOOL IN PIMA COUNTY ARE UNACCOMPANIED STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT LIVING WITH THEIR BIOLOGICAL OR ADOPTIVE PARENTS OR LEGAL GUARDIANS, AND ARE ON THEIR OWN THROUGH NO CHOICE OF THEIR OWN (FORCED TO LEAVE HOME). YOTO YOUTH ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS (E.G., COUCH HOPPING, LIVING IN CAR, RV, OR ANY PLACE NOT MEANT FOR LONG-TERM HABITATION, ETC.) OR ARE SELF-SUPPORTING STUDENTS WHO PAY FOR THEIR OWN HOUSING AND MUST PROVIDE ALL THEIR OWN BASIC NEEDS. YOTO'S CHIEF FOCUS IS EDUCATION, SPECIFICALLY A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, AS A TOOL TO DISRUPT THE CYCLE OF POVERTY. GRADUATION RATES FOR YOUTH EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ARE EXTREMELY LOW DUE TO THE STRESS OF MANAGING THEIR DAILY CIRCUMSTANCES. OVER 5,600 K-12 STUDENTS HAVE BEEN IDEN