A ribbon-cutting, dedication, and tour of the Harvest House Youth Center, a drop-in center located off Mango Avenue, Sarasota, that provides a safe gathering place and access to services and support for homeless teens and young adults in Sarasota is scheduled for this Thursday, October 18. Harvest House repurposed the bungalow with design and decoration ideas from Youth Action Board members, who wanted to ensure a welcoming, secure, and functional space for homeless and at-risk youth. More than 400 teens and young adults age 16 to 24 face homelessness on any given night in Sarasota County. These vulnerable youth also face myriad other daily risks, ranging from hunger to violence to criminal exploitation. With funding from Gulf Coast and its donors, a community collaboration of nonprofit agencies and local government is building a stronger system of care for Sarasota’s homeless youth by filling gaps in existing services and addressing their needs. Most importantly, youth who have been homeless themselves are informing this effort, taking responsibility for helping others navigate and overcome immense challenges that they already know firsthand.

Harvest House