Community Catalysts, a local non-profit specializing in attainable housing initiatives, is working with The Connection Youth Services to ensure that housing for youth exiting homelessness in Livingston County continues to be available.
The Connection Youth Services, founded in 2001. helps meet the needs of homeless and runaway youth. In a release, Executive Director Angela Parth said she was informed a couple months ago of the impending sale of the building the organization was leasing as transitional housing for youth exiting homelessness. With the lack of available affordable housing in Livingston County, the conversion of the property to market-rate housing would have left these youth with no place to
Parth contacted Community Catalysts to find out if they could help. Community Catalysts closed on the purchase of the property in December and has committed $50,000 to improve the property through structural repairs and other enhancements to the building. A “pathway of encouragement will be added so that the youth will read encouraging messages inscribed in bricks as they enter their home.
Eileen Zilch, executive director of Community Catalysts, said that one of the best parts of her job is being able to “partner with other amazing organizations who are serving people in our community who need our help.”
This is Community Catalysts’ third housing project in Livingston County in 2021, and the second
association with a local nonprofit to provide attainable housing for people in need.
Community Catalysts is a 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Howell. Founded in 2016, Community Catalysts supports seniors, veterans, homeless and other low income people through quality attainable housing and services. Learn more about their mission donate, and volunteer at www.community-catalysts.org.
