Dee Allen
Dee Allen knows the pain of growing up with the realities of domestic violence and housing instability.
As a child, she, her mother and siblings faced homelessness, needing to live with her grandmother. However, she felt lucky to have that familial support, as she knows many young people in similar situations do not.
“If it wasn’t for the fact that my grandmom helped us, we would’ve been in a really bad position,” she said. “I think kids should have the opportunity to find a place and a space where they can enjoy being a kid.”
That’s why Allen founded Thrive Housing Services in 2014, to fill a gap that she saw in services for Dauphin County youth. Over the past decade, Thrive has provided housing for young adults who have experienced homelessness, whether that’s due to challenging or unsafe family dynamics, aging out of foster care, single parenthood or not being able to afford rent.
Recently, Thrive has begun expanding as the organization has opened a new affordable housing apartment building for 18-to-24-year-olds in Allison Hill and has plans to serve even younger clients at a new group home on Front Street in Harrisburg.
The growth comes at a time when Allen said that demand for services has reached a peak. Last year, Thrive had over 200 referrals to its program. Five years ago, that number would’ve been closer to 70, Allen said.
She sees inflation and high rent rates as contributing factors in the increase in young adult homelessness. In Dauphin County, thousands of youth experience homelessness, Allen said.
Often, young adults who end up at Thrive have dealt with housing instability for a good part of their lives, many having fallen through the cracks and, for one reason or another, haven’t received much support from local agencies.
“They are in this survival mode where they feel like every meal is their last meal,” Allen said. “They don’t get to enjoy the things that other kids with stable homes would be able to enjoy.”
Positive Future
This is where Thrive steps in, providing transitional and permanent housing for young adults, as well as offering case management, education and other supports.
Often, Thrive serves as an advocate and go-between for young adults and landlords and agencies, helping place them in apartments. Thrive assists clients in getting financial support to help pay rent, as well as offering job training and mentorship. In total, the organization has around 80 units for youth and families, a combination of apartments offered in partnership with landlords and Thrive-owned units. Some clients stay in Thrive housing for only a few months; others live in the housing for years, depending on their needs.
“This program, although it’s not perfect, provides stability and provides a safe environment for youth and young adults that are in this community,” she said.
Allen has seen the impact of stable housing on so many of the young people who have come through Thrive. One LGBTQ youth was kicked out of his home by his parents, came to Thrive and later moved out after being accepted into college. Another high school girl had been homeless for several years, was failing classes at school and was working a job at night. Once Thrive supplied housing, her grades improved, she graduated and was promoted to a manager position at a restaurant.
“All of the stories don’t turn out like that, but the ones that do, it’s cool to see,” Allen said.
Harrisburg resident Brenda Sandoval began volunteering with Thrive several months ago, inspired by their mission. She helps organize donations in Thrive’s warehouse and translates for Spanish-speaking clients, among other tasks.
“I find it so amazing, everything they do for the kids,” she said. “I really like being able to help them. They’re our future, these kids.”
In November, Allen and Thrive supporters cut the ribbon on the nonprofit’s first building that it owns completely. The building, on S. 13th Street, offers 16 furnished units for individuals and single parents.
At the event, a 19-year-old Thrive resident, Bianca, shared that, before coming to Thrive, she and her 1-year-old daughter were homeless. Thrive, she said, “welcomed me like family.”
Allen also shared plans for a group home for teenagers, ages 12 to 17, that Thrive aims to open in Harrisburg in the spring, saying that it would be the first of its kind in the county. It’s important to Allen to give kids the chance to remain in their community, rather than uprooting them for an out-of-county program.
Beyond those two projects, Allen has even more growth in mind because she knows how many young people are in need.
“I just feel like every kid deserves a chance to have a stable home,” she said. “So, if I can provide that opportunity, no matter how many successful stories you have, just the ability to provide that keeps me going.”
For more information on Thrive Housing Services, visit www.thrivehousingservices.org.
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