NEST is a city-wide effort to prevent and end homelessness among adolescents and young adults who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning (LGBTQ). In this region, NEST could change the futures of as many as 5,000 youth who run away or are kicked out of their home.
This collaboration—coordinated by the Montrose Center/Hatch Youth, led by Coalition for the Homeless Houston/Harris County and guided by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development—represents more than 60 Houston/Harris County youth agencies and service providers. The NEST Steering Committee has finalized its Strategic Plan, and is beginning the implementation phase and execution of activities, which will continue from the present until December 31, 2016. To view the full plan, click the link below.
View the NEST Strategic Plan
View the NEST Collaboration & Quality Improvement Plan
Objectives
NEST has five overarching objectives. These include:
- Facilitate better local collaboration between stakeholders working with youth to develop and implement a comprehensive community strategy to prevent homelessness among LGBTQ youth
- Improve identification of LGBTQ youth at‐risk of or experiencing episodic homelessness through outreach, screening and assessment
- Identify, coordinate and improve policies & interventions to prevent LGBTQ youth homelessness across shelter and housing systems (e.g., primary and behavioral health care, child welfare, education, employment, juvenile justice, law enforcement)
- Reduce homelessness among LGBTQ youth and improve their outcomes in the areas of permanent connections, stable housing, education/employment, and well‐being
- Inform national strategies for preventing & ending homelessness among LGBTQ youth
NEST receives funding from The Frees Foundation. National initiative partners include U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Department of Justice – Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.
Participating Agencies
| Advocacy Incorporated AIDS Foundation Houston, Inc. Association of Family and Community Integrity (AFCI) Baylor College of Medicine Baylor Teen Health Clinic Bnai Brith Youth Organization (BBYO) Bee Busy Behavioral Health Alliance of Texas Bering United Methodist Church Hawthorne Dinner Catholic Charities Cenpatico City of Houston-Mayor’s Office Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris Co. Communities in Schools Covenant House Texas Community Services Department (CSD), Harris County Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District (CFISD) DePelchin Children’s Center Equality Texas Funders Together Grace Lutheran Church Harris County Juvenile Probation Department Harris County Office of Social Services Harris County Protective Services for Children and Adults Harris County Protective Services (HCPS) Youth Services Hay Center Homeless Youth Network of Harris County Houston Area Community Services (HACS) Houston Independent School District Houston Police Department Homeless Outreach Team Legacy Community Health Services Love146 Mayor’s Anti-Gang Office – City of Houston Mental Health America Mental Health and Mental Retardation Authority (MHMRA) of Harris County | Montrose Grace Place National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Texas Network of Behavioral Health Providers New Hope Housing Office of Council Member Stephen Costello Office of County Commissioner Steve RadackOffice of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Office of State Representative Jessica Farrar One Voice Texas Open Gate Homeless Youth Ministries Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast Texas Rainbow Pages Houston Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church Rice University Safety Net Project Salvation Army SEARCH Homeless Services Skills 4 Living Southwest Key Programs Stand Up for Kids Strawbridge United Methodist Church Texas Homeless Education Office (THEO) The Center of Success and Independence The Montrose Center/Hatch Youth The Simmons Foundation The Woman’s Home Transgender Center Transgender Education Network of Texas University of Houston University of Texas School of Public Health University of Texas School of Nursing Veterans Administration West Side Homeless Women’s Resource Center YES Prep YMCA Youth Ranch |