Press Release
Contact: Zoe O’Haillin-Berne
(317) 541-8726 ext. 106
zberne@indianayouthgroup.org
July 1, 2022
Indiana Youth Group (IYG) has received support in the amount of $125,000 from The United Way of Central Indiana’s Basic Needs Fund. IYG is one of 63 Central Indiana organizations who received support totaling $8.3 million to serve individuals and families across the region.
UWCI has supported IYG’s work for several years; however, this year’s grant demonstrates a significant increase in funding.
IYG will use this funding to support its Basic Needs programming, which provides food, free clothing, hygiene/toiletries, transitional apparel, and laundry facilities to LGBTQ+ young people ages 12-24 experiencing homelessness, housing instability, and food insecurity.
Basic Needs programming is offered as part of IYG’s larger wraparound youth services including case management and mental health counseling. IYG also operates Project Prism, the largest rapid rehousing provider for young people in the greater Indianapolis area. In 2021, the Basic Needs program served over 440 unique youth clients. Through the generous support of the UWCI, IYG anticipates an expansion of its capacity to serve and even greater number of LGBTQ+ young people in Central Indiana.
"Thank you to the United Way of Central Indiana for recognizing the great work that the team at IYG does to provide Basic Needs to some of our city's most marginalized youth,” said IYG CEO, Chris Paulsen. “This funding will allow us to increase the support we can offer young people in dire situations."