2023

Through 2023, Young Governors continued with the theme of tackling homelessness in Elmhurst and executed a project to connect unhoused individuals in our community with long-term employment opportunities. Our community needs assessment involved working with the New Life food pantry and health center to engage with and learn more about the problems facing the unhoused community, as they were deeply involved with helping the homeless population in Elmhurst. Through interviews with unhoused individuals we met around our community, we learned about the challenges they faced in their everyday lives. Many shared stories of struggling to find work due to pervasive health issues or their legal documents being stolen. 

We then executed a two-stage project. Our first stage centered around connecting them with short-term employment opportunities funded by Young Governors. We fundraised ~$1000 and hired unhoused individuals, many of whom we met during our initial interviews. Over a period of a week, we employed them to clean up Moore Homestead Playground on Broadway, paying each person $15 per hour worked. In total, we were able to employ about 30 people, distributing all of our fundraised capital.

The next step involved connecting them with long-term opportunities and support systems, consistent with Young Governor’s central ideology of community organizing. We connected them with Commonpoint Queens, a community center that offers job training, in order to enable them for future opportunities. We also spoke to local businesses in Elmhurst to find long-term jobs, successfully employing multiple workers.

Through these efforts, Young Governors not only provided immediate financial relief but also took meaningful steps toward long-term stability for unhoused individuals in Elmhurst. By combining direct action with community partnerships, we helped create pathways to employment and support systems that extended beyond our project. This initiative reinforced our commitment to sustainable change, demonstrating the power of community organizing in addressing local challenges.

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