Cornerstone Youth home

Goal

Cornerstone Youth Home serves children in kindergarten through sixth grade (ages 5–12 years) who are experiencing housing instability. We provide long-term, stable housing to children while working with families to resolve challenges surrounding education, employment, health, and permanent housing.

We believe children and their families have the power to develop solutions to break the cycle of homelessness. Cornerstone Youth Home creates a long-term space of safety and stability for children to develop their academic skills, understand and build personal strengths while their family implements a professionally supported housing plan.

How It Works

Child stays at Cornerstone Youth Home Sunday night through Friday morning.

Each child has their own private bedroom.

Children return to Cornerstone Youth Home Sunday evening by 6 pm.

What to Expect

Students stay at Cornerstone Youth Home Sunday night through Thursday night (Friday summer hours may vary). They have their own bedroom and home environment with highly trained staff supervision. Families pick their students up from school on Fridays with a check-list of things to ask of the teacher so they remain connected. We make sure the student and family are safe over the weekend. Students remain in their home schools for an entire school year.

Call 717-624-3011 to set up a tour.

We require

Physical form including immunizations & Vision/Dental form
Birth certificate
Proof of status of housing
Social Security numbers of parent and youth
Child’s Medical card
Parent Picture ID (driver’s license, passport, State-issued ID card)

Breaking the cycle of generational homelessness

Cornerstone Youth Home is a community-driven solution serving students, ages 6 through 11, who are experiencing homelessness and transience. We provide long-term, stable housing to the children while working with their families to resolve issues surrounding education, employment, health, and housing, increasing a student’s capacity for life-long educational success by disrupting the cycle of homelessness and transience in a safe, stable, restorative practice home environment. On average, there are 350+ self-identified students who experience housing instability during a school year just in York City School District (YCSD). Typically, 2nd and 3rd grade children experience the highest concentration.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does a student get into CYH?
A family member will need to call and set up an appointment. There is an interview and orientation process. We are stabilizing the student AND strengthening the entire family. Families need to understand this is a program of growth for the entire family. If everyone understands the program and completes the application process, the student would have an opportunity to stay with us overnight and get to know the other students. Once everyone believes it is a “good fit”, we can begin the journey.
How can I support the CYH Program?
Approximately 25% of our funding comes from individual and private donations. We look to the community to help provide Sunday night dinners for our family gatherings and assistance in maintaining our residence facility. Qualified volunteers (passing all safety background checks and training) are needed in several areas: academic tutors, student mentors and family member resources, to name a few. If you would like to volunteer or raise funds for CYH with your organization, please contact us at cyhyork@gmail.com
What is CYH's Focus?
We believe students and their families have the power to develop solutions to break the cycle of homelessness. CYH creates a long-term space of safety and stability for students to develop their academic skills, understand and build personal strengths while their family implements a professionally supported housing plan.
Why should a family work with CYH?
It is all about building trust relationships. Our job is proving to a family that they can trust us to provide a safe living situation for their student while they are working hard to create a stronger family foundation. That all takes time and patience. We absolutely believe 99.9% of families are doing the very best they can in the moment. They want the best for their children. We will work WITH them (not “for them” or “to them”) as they implement their personal path forward.
How does it work exactly?
Students stay at Cornerstone Youth Home Sunday night through Thursday night. They have their own bedroom and home environment with highly trained staff supervision. Families pick their students up from school on Fridays with a check-list of things to ask of the teacher so they remain connected. We make sure the student and family are safe over the weekend. We come back together Sunday evening for a family meal and workshop to reinforce strength and family skills. Students remain in their home schools for an entire school year.
Where will the families be while the student stays at CYH?
We work with other programs and private organizations to help a family find long-term housing and/or programs they need. Collaborations across the community help all our efforts to be more efficient. It typically takes a family experiencing homelessness two years to gain stability once the crisis has been navigated. CYH becomes a way for the student, family and collaborating agencies to know there is one place we can all come together as the family moves forward.

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