“We are so grateful to Liberty Mutual for its investment in our comprehensive approach to helping vulnerable young people experiencing homelessness,” said Elisabeth Jackson, chief executive officer of Bridge Over Troubled Waters.
BOSTON (PRWEB)
October 05, 2021
Bridge Over Troubled Waters (Bridge) today announced that it has received a $2.5 million grant from Liberty Mutual Foundation to address the challenges and outcome-based solutions of youth experiencing homelessness. The donation, which will be provided over a five-year period, is the largest the organization has ever received.
“We are so grateful to Liberty Mutual for its investment in our comprehensive approach to helping vulnerable young people experiencing homelessness,” said Elisabeth Jackson, chief executive officer of Bridge Over Troubled Waters. “Liberty Mutual has been a decades-long partner in this work and we are extremely grateful for their continued leadership and commitment as we strengthen the agency, expand our programs and deepen the scope of our services.”
Research shows that Black and African American youth have an 83 percent higher risk of becoming homeless while LGBTQ+ youth are 120 percent more likely to experience homelessness. Even more concerning, 50 percent of youth who are homeless are unsheltered. The prevalence of homelessness among people between the ages of 14 and 24 is growing, and many of the young people who become homeless are being both physically and sexually abused or exploited. Between 70 and 80 percent of the youth that Bridge works with have experienced trauma or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Bridge Over Troubled Waters provides both housing and support services to young people who have become homeless. Bridge’s key services include prevention and intervention programs, such as its Mobile Medical Van and Street Outreach programs, and its Safe Place sites; as well as self-sufficiency initiatives, including its Transitional Day Program and educational and career support programs. Bridge also provides housing access and stability services, including its innovative “Liberty House” co-op model that was purchased with a $1.1 million gift from the Liberty Mutual Foundation in 2018. This new $2.5 million grant will support Bridge’s efforts to further reach and support youth experiencing homelessness.
“We’re honored to expand our long-term partnership with Bridge Over Troubled Waters,” said Melissa MacDonnell, president of Liberty Mutual Foundation. “They have proven themselves to be a best-in-class organization, providing the vital wraparound care necessary to help homeless, runaway and at-risk youth reach their full potential. The scale of the investment, our largest to date, indicates our deep commitment to addressing youth homelessness in Boston, and our belief that Bridge’s efforts serve as an effective model to help alleviate this hidden epidemic.”
The donation will help Bridge address some of its pre-existing infrastructure needs and organizational capacity, as the agency scales to meet the increasing needs of youth. Additionally, it will help the organization expand its co-operative supportive housing model that allows young people an opportunity to live independently while assisting them in building the financial resources to find an apartment in the region. Finally, it will support Bridge’s efforts to raise awareness of the challenges faced by youth experiencing homelessness and the need for additional service support.
“The challenges vulnerable youth and young adults face are complex and there is no one-size-fits-all solution,” said Jackson. “For over 50 years, our model has incorporated a comprehensive and individualized approach to our work with youth experiencing homelessness, understanding that young people are best served when all aspects of youth development are addressed. We thank Liberty Mutual for this significant, five-year investment in this shared vision.”
About Bridge Over Troubled Waters
Bridge Over Troubled Waters, founded in 1970, is the largest agency in Greater Boston providing a full continuum of care to homeless, runaway and at-risk youth. Each year, Bridge serves more than 2,000 youth through a comprehensive range of survival, health, educational, career and housing programs in order to encourage the formation of a healthy, productive and fulfilling adulthood. For more information, visit http://www.BridgeOTW.org
About Liberty Mutual Insurance
At Liberty Mutual, we believe progress happens when people feel secure. By providing protection for the unexpected and delivering it with care, we help people embrace today and confidently pursue tomorrow.
In business since 1912, and headquartered in Boston, today we are the sixth largest global property and casualty insurer based on 2020 gross written premium. We also rank 71st on the Fortune 100 list of largest corporations in the U.S. based on 2020 revenue. As of December 31, 2020, we had $43.8 billion in annual consolidated revenue.
We employ over 45,000 people in 29 countries and economies around the world. We offer a wide range of insurance products and services, including personal automobile, homeowners, specialty lines, reinsurance, commercial multiple-peril, workers compensation, commercial automobile, general liability, surety, and commercial property.
For more information, visit http://www.libertymutualinsurance.com.
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