Unmet Needs

When HomePlate began operations in 2005, we served 116 homeless youth.  That number increased to 405 in 2011. Washington County school districts report 2,298 students, grades k-12, are homeless in the 2009-2010 school year—454 more than the previous year.  At the same time, the state allocation for these services saw a 22% decrease for the 2009-2011 biennium.
 

Cost Efficiency

HomePlate keeps administrative and fundraising costs low, so 88% of expenses and 100% of all donations go directly towards helping youth.

Return on Investment

According to a study conducted by New Avenues for Youth (The Economic Benefits of Helping Homeless Youth), research shows that investing in programs for homeless youth, like HomePlate, has a total return of over 400%.  In other words, every dollar that supports a youth at HomePlate provides over $4 in increased tax contributions and avoided costs for social services, such as criminal justice, substance abuse, and medical care.