Ryan's Homeless Youth Center Changing Lives for the Better in Rural Kentucky

HUD and KCEOC staff and the family of Ryan White attend the ribbon cutting ceremony for Ryan's Place.

KCEOC Community Action Partnership Inc. (www.kceoc.org/) has been changing lives for decades in Eastern Kentucky. They recently made another stride with the opening of Ryan's Place, a safe haven in Barbourville, Kentucky where homeless youth can receive services and stay until they get back on their feet. HUD staff attended the dedication and provided remarks for the newly opened facility, which has four two-bedroom units for youth 18-24. An onsite case manager has been hired to provide educational skills, life skills, employment, and other supportive services which includes helping them provide a path for permanent housing.

The Center was named after Ryan White, a homeless youth that became involved in the youth action board around the time the grant proposal was being written. “He wanted to see youth in the community have a voice and a safe place,” KCEOC Homeless Services Manager, Beverly Isom said. Ryan's Place was made possible by $259,930 from the HUD Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program (www.hudexchange.info/programs/yhdp/).

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