Urban Triage Youth Drop-in Center Grand Opening

media release: On Wednesday, May 31, 2023, Urban Triage will hold a ribbon-cutting event to commemorate our Youth Drop-In Center's grand opening at 306 E Wilson St, Madison, WI 53704, from 4:00 pm- 7:00 pm. The Youth Drop-In Center is part of the organization’s Unhoused Youth Initiative, launched in March. The initiative is Dane County's and Wisconsin's first Unhoused Youth Initiative that includes a drop-in center, a shelter (Opening Winter of 2023) for youth between the ages of 17.5 and 24 with children, and transitional housing opportunities like rapid re-housing and scattered sites housing. Urban Triage’s “Urban Youth Center” will offer support with resumes, job placements, essential needs, trauma recovery, housing navigation support, permanent housing, food, and case management. 

Urban Triage is rooted in centering those most vulnerable and filling gaps in services while providing comfortable, accepting, and stigma-free spaces that center the humanity of all who come through the door. The lack of youth-centered resources (17 to 24) is one reason youth disproportionately experience homelessness in Dane County, WI, especially among Black youth. Our initiative, which includes our drop-in center, is in partnership with the Youth Action Board (YAB), the City of Madison, the Road Home, and LGBTQ Outreach. YAB is a non-profit organization that is a diverse group of young people, ages 14-24, with lived expertise surrounding homelessness/housing instability.

The goal of opening our Youth Drop-In Center and launching our Unhoused Youth Initiative is to provide community resources and services to vulnerable youth experiencing homelessness, imminent homelessness, or housing insecurity. According to the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, it was estimated that upwards of 4,600 youth in Dane County in 2019 were doubled-up homeless that year and the Homeless Services Consortium reports that on any given night, 49 unhoused youths between the ages of 18-24, and 12 unhoused youth-headed families live on the streets. Our initiative will provide shelter to youth-headed families, as well as wrap-around services, navigation support, advocacy, personal development, trauma recovery, and job readiness to prepare them for permanent housing and a life that doesn’t require them to be in survival mode, but rather a life that they can thrive in.

“As an organization, we believe in filling the gaps and serving those most vulnerable. And, too often, people talk about the problems and lack of resources available to support youth, but we do very little about it. We’re ecstatic to be allowed to do what's never been done. We’re kind of known for this type of programming—the type of programming that centers those most impacted in a humane, transformative, and community-led way. ” Brandi Grayson, CEO of Urban Triage said. “Given our history, our social capital, and the trust of our community to do the work, we’re confident of the impact of our partnerships and programming.”

Our partnership with YAB is revolutionary. We’re proud to partner with YAB in launching the first ever Unhoused Youth Initiative and open our Youth Drop-In Center to support vulnerable and disenfranchised youth in our community. We are humbled by YAB’s trust in our ability to do the work.