Devin's Story
Access to Resources is Key to His Long-term Success
Devin*, 20, was found sleeping behind an auto parts store during a routine Street Outreach outing; a task our Street Outreach team does regularly to identify and help unhoused youth throughout the Kansas City metro. After connecting with our team members, Devin shared that he had severed ties with his family, child, and the child’s mother. Not ready to enter a shelter, the Street Outreach team provided him with a tent and essential outdoor gear. They reassured Devin that he could reach out if he needed additional help.
Our Street Outreach team stayed connected with Devin. They helped as he began reconnecting with his loved ones, creating a safety plan, and re-engaging in his role as a father. Devin would frequently reach out to his case manager for guidance in following his safety plan. He worked to independently complete tasks such as obtaining his Social Security card and finding a job.
Devin has also worked to foster a positive, platonic relationship with his child’s mother and has shown remarkable determination to change his life. With our Street Outreach team’s support, he has resumed working and is staying with a friend, no longer sleeping outside the auto parts store. He eagerly awaits his housing voucher and looks forward to having a stable home where he can spend quality time with his son.
*Name changed to protect privacy
Getting connected to caring people and the right help generally means the difference between a positive outcome and a lifelong struggle for homeless teens. Adding a child into the mix increases the complexity and the stakes—both for the youth and the community. Investing in the services that put these young people on a path to success makes possible a transformation that benefits us all.
Contribute to our cause
Access to safe and stable housing as well as support services is essential for families fleeing domestic violence. The Domestic Violence Housing Program was built in 2019 to address this barrier and is home to over 25 independent living apartments.
Victim-Survivors and their families can enter the Domestic Violence Housing Program and gain access to rent and utility assistance for up to two years, as well as therapy, case management, preschool programming, advocacy, and additional wrap-around services. Every day at Synergy, victim survivors become safe today and strong tomorrow as they gain the resources and resiliency to move into independence, changing their lives and their children’s futures while breaking the cycle of family violence.
Interested in learning more about the Domestic Violence Housing Program at Synergy Services?