News

Some issues faced by young people today are the same issues they’ve been facing for decades – conflict with their parents and mental health issues, for example – and some issues could have hardly been imagined when our shelter was founded, like cyber bullying and the pressures of social media. We believe it’s essential, then, that we adapt our approach to meet this evolving set of needs.

A new report found that in the past three school years (from 2014-2015 to 2016-2017) the number of identified school-aged youth experiencing homelessness at any point during the year increased by 7%, from a little over 1.2 million to a little over 1.3 million homeless youth. Virginia had an even more drastic increase -- more than 14%.

Second Story has a podcast called Second Stories! Second Stories is dedicated to telling stories of people who had first stories full of hardship and hopelessness, yet were able to change the narrative and write a new one.

Your donations helped make the holidays brighter for the young people in our programs this year. Hear about the holidays from program manager Michelle Stitt and the young people in our programs!

For the eighth year in a row, Second Story has earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, the leading charity evaluator in America. This is the highest rating possible; only 4% of charities in America receive this kind of long-standing achievement.

Another school year has arrived! A new year is a huge milestone for youth in all of our programs, but can be especially challenging for homeless youth.

Summer is over and young people in our community based and residential programs are back at school. Meanwhile, we’re reflecting on a sweet summer made even more special by the generosity of community partners through some pretty amazing field trips.

We could not be more proud of the young people in our programs graduating from high school! This year 100% of seniors in Second Story's programs are graduating -- 17 total. We can't wait to see what they do next, and we're eager to highlight just a few of Second Story's 2018 graduating seniors!

June is pride month, and this year we're talking about LGBTQ youth and homelessness. LGBTQ youth are 120% more at risk to be homeless, and face unique challenges. Learn more about how Second Story works with LGBTQ youth.

A recently released study found that 1 in 5 homeless youth were victims of human trafficking. Learn more about why homeless youth are so vulnerable and what Second Story is doing to help.

April is volunteer appreciation month! We truly could not provide safe spaces and opportunities to youth in crisis throughout Northern Virginia without YOUR support. Our dedicated volunteers give of their time and resources everyday. Just last year 1,821 volunteers gave 14,228 hours of their time to help us fulfill our mission. This month we’re recognizing just a few dedicated volunteers by asking them why they believe in Second Story.

1 in 10 young adults aged 18-25 experience homelessness every year, and about half of them experience homelessness in the form of couch surfing.

November is National Runaway Prevention Month. According to National Network for Youth, between 1.6 and 2.8 million youth run away every year. A life on the streets introduces a young person to an array of dangers: drugs, truancy, depression, sexual exploitation, even suicide. In Northern Virginia, though, there is another option: Second Story for Teens in Crisis.

At Second Story we believe that when families flourish, individuals flourish, and by responding to the needs of the family we are completing the circle -- strengthening communities and supporting young people even more effectively. Everyday Second Story is empowering men and women through the Culmore and Springfield Family Resource Centers. Just last year over 13,000 people were served through these centers.

As I approach my 20th year as CEO of Second Story, I reflect on all the ways we have grown and developed since I started. Amidst the change something rings true for me: dedication. Dedication of our staff, dedication to support young people, and your dedication as a community.