The "STEPS" program was created in 2008 after The Harbour saw an increase in the number of pregnant and parenting youth in need of service. It is not uncommon for the parents of these youth to kick them out after they have revealed their pregnancy, leaving them particularly vulnerable.
While teen pregnancy rates have generally declined over the past decade, there are still over one million pregnant teens annually in the U.S.
Parenting can be especially difficult for homeless youth, who are often facing their own challenges as adolescents and struggling to meet not only their basic needs, but also the needs of their child.
The Harbour's Successful Teens/Effective Parents ("STEPS") program provides:
- Gradually decreasing rent assistance as parents and their children live in their own apartment
- Parenting and childcare related support and training in parenting skills
- Counseling and case management focused on the unique needs of parents & children
