HUD Buffalo's Warm Soles Committee Brightens Holidays for Homeless Youths

HUD Buffalo staff joined together to help brighten the holidays for local homeless youth by donating socks, scarves, hats, and many items selected from the Amazon wish list of Compass House, a local homeless shelter that provides runaway teens with resources, beds, and a place to call home. Compass House receives HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) and Youth Homeless Demonstration Project (YHDP) funds for youth, ages 12 -24. These funds are used to provide Transitional Housing, Rapid ReHousing, and a Youth Drop-In Center with multiple resources on site.

The Warm Soles Committee is a volunteer team of Buffalo HUD staff that plans fun activities in the office to generate donations of warm socks, boots, long johns, etc., each year to share with a local homeless organization. In previous years, the Committee hosted pancake breakfasts, tailgate parties, lemonade stands, Octoberfest…events that combined fun & food! Due to the pandemic, the fundraiser was held virtually this year. Many staff members donned festive holiday attire while taking part in a zoom call over coffee and hot cocoa to talk about needed items and to share in some holiday cheer.

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