Thrive Youth Center's mission is to provide a safe, effective, and supportive center for homeless LGBTQ+ youth 18-24, so they may become productive, skilled, educated, and successful adults with the ability, opportunity, and possibility of achieving their dreams.

Our emergency shelter has ten beds for LGBTQIA2S+ young adults experiencing homelessness in Bexar County, providing a stable and affirming dormitory space with individual case management and community support. Our rapid rehousing program supports over twenty young people in their own appartments for up to a year- in this HUD funded program, we provide rent and utility assistance along with wrap around case management and life skills support. We also distribute survival backpacks and information to young adults on the streets. Our case managers, program managers, outreach workers, and other staff meet these young people where they are in their life journey and strive to accompany them towards exiting homelessness. Between these three core programs, we served over 200 young adults in 2019 alone! 

Here's just one story of a Thrive youth: 

J wrote Thrive this email..."I am 19 years old, I have a part time job at HEB. My mom recently found out I was dating a girl and she ruined everything for me and is threatening to kick me out, I have no where to go, my dad rarely has a place to stay himself, jumping from house to house. When I turned 18 my mom started asking me to take out loans and credit cards, when she found out I was lesbian she stopped paying on them. I can’t afford to pay them myself because I have a car I am paying on and my phone and insurance and she makes me buy my own food because she says she “doesn’t have enough money to feed gays”. I’ve tried to work things out with my mother but she’s giving me to the end of November to find somewhere to go. One of my sisters is a manager at an apartment complex and told me about this program in hopes it could help me out."  Well we did! J found a healthcare job that she wanted to apply for - her only work experience was for Sonic and HEB. J worked with her case manager and our team to get that resume dressed up and do interview prep on how to present herself, explain why the employer wanted her and why she was the best person for the job. We were ecstatic when we got this message..."I GOT THE JOB!" J is still on the job, going to school and living in her second apartment that she got on her own after graduating from the housing program. Her bravery to reach out, be vulnerable and accept assistance is one of the most amazing things a youth could ever do.

We are honored to work with these resiliant young people. Help us support their journeys with a financial or in-kind contribution to Thrive!