Inception
Family Connections Center Inc was born from a chance encounter with a homeless youth in 2019, highlighting the growing population of unaccompanied houseless youth aged 16-24 in South Dakota and across the nation. Recognizing the lack of support for these vulnerable individuals, our nonprofit was established with a mission to empower youth to live independently.
Youth Support
Many of the youth we assist have aged out of foster care or come from homes with housing insecurity, lacking the necessary guidance for independent living. To bridge this gap, we have created "The Circle," our flagship initiative, an 8000 square foot Drop-In Center in Rapid City, offering year-round support from 1pm to 8pm to prevent chronic homelessness for youth, while providing supportive services to develop independent living.
Statistics and Need
Alarming statistics show that 1 in 10 youth aged 18-25 face homelessness annually, with over 812 at-risk or homeless youth identified by Rapid City Area Schools in the 2022-23 school year. "The Circle" provides tailored support in areas such as workforce development, education, housing, counseling, and more to help youth achieve their full potential.
Transitional Housing Centers
The Circle Transitional Housing Centers, scattered site independent living homes, aims to reduce homelessness among young adults aged 18-24 by providing up to 24 months of stable housing and focusing on education, employment, and life skills for independence. We employ a Housing First approach and incorporate trauma-informed care to create a supportive environment for our residents.
Safe Place Youth Shelter
Our Safe Place Youth Shelter beginning Fall of 2024, offers a safe haven from 11pm-8am for housing insecure youth aged 18-24, connecting them to longer-term housing solutions. Grounded in Housing First practices, the shelter provides a supportive environment and comprehensive services to empower youth towards independence.
Foundations
Foundations Spring of 2025 start date is a group home setting warmly welcomes expectant mothers at any stage of their pregnancy or parenting journey, providing accommodation until their baby reaches one year of age. The program, centered around the individual, is customized to meet each mother's needs at her current life stage. Foundations aims to address the unique needs of each mother and support their journey towards self-sufficiency and independent living.
HOME ARP
The American Rescue Plan, HOME-ARP provides financial resource to assist individuals or households who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, and other vulnerable populations, by providing housing, rental assistance, and supportive services for all ages who have been referred through the South Dakota Homeless Management Information System's Coordinated Entry.
LIFE (Live Independently and Flourish with Empowerment)
LIFE is a joint Transitional and Rapid Rehousing and Homeless Prevention Program for survivors of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or human trafficking developed to be implemented in conjunction with and to complement Family Connections Center Inc’s Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program, Youth and Young Adult Drop-In and Transitional Housing, and HOME ARP projects.
Eligibility
Clients are referred through the South Dakota Homeless Management Information System's Coordinated Entry are eligible for our programs. Candidate selection is conducted through the South Dakota Coordinated Entry System, guaranteeing fair and equal access to our services.
