This Christmas, "go homeless" on airbnb so that foster youth don't have to.
20% of kids are homeless the day they age out of foster care. This Christmas, we're asking you to book a park bench, dumpster, tent, or street shanty on airbnb. The proceeds (minus airbnb's applicable fees and expenses), will go to Youth Futures Utah, a nonprofit that strives to keep Utah's at-risk youth off the streets.
Our goal is to book the following airbnb locations through next Christmas and use the funds to keep Utah's youth and foster graduates housed and healthy as they transition to adult living. If you can't donate, please consider sharing this campaign to help raise awareness and bring in potential donors.
Thank you for your help, and Merry Christmas!
Option 1: Salt Lake City park bench for $1000/night
Open-air accommodation. Close to everything: parks, shopping, and a seasonal-restroom. Bed can be turned into shelter by sleeping underneath.
Proceeds will go to the Youth Futures Utah
Option 2: Secluded West Valley dumpster for $25/night
Semi-enclosed, open-sky lodging. Right on Redwood with nearby freeway access! No freezer necessary. Groceries will freeze naturally. Thaw with your body heat when needed.
Proceeds will go to the Youth Futures Utah
Option 3: Jordan River shanty for $50/night
Unforgettable escape in South Salt Lake. Experience territorial river geese and raccoons first hand. Not recommended for sleepers who roll over. No refunds for flood days.
Proceeds will go to the Youth Futures Utah
Option 4: Salt Lake City overpass tent for $100/night
Centrally located. SECONDS from I-15. Within walking distance of Smith's and Deseret Industries! Possible randomized checkins/evictions at night.
Proceeds will go to the Youth Futures Utah
If these accomodations sound miserable, please book.
Proceeds (you don't really have to stay) will go toward providing a home for Utah teens who are experiencing homelessness.
Seriously though, homelessness isn't a joke. It's an epidemic. There are over half a million homeless in the U.S. Help us make a difference in their lives this Christmas.
Why are we doing this?
It's a sobering fact that roughly 50% of America's homeless population have been in foster care. As a center that specializes in foster teens, our goal is to raise awareness of the link between foster care and homelessness, and to provide Utah foster kids with the resources they need to stay off the streets. By renting out homeless airbnb locations, you are helping to do both.
Eric Allred was born and raised in Rigby, Idaho. He grew up on a family farm where he learned the value of work. He graduated from Rigby High School and attended Rick’s College, now known as BYU-Idaho. He received his bachelor’s degree in journalism from Utah State University, received a master’s degree in organizational behavior and human relations from the University of Phoenix and a second master’s degree in marital and family therapy from Phillips Graduate Institute. Eric has been involved in Rotary and was president of a local Rotary Club. He enjoys being with his family and doing outdoor activities such as fly fishing.
Chase was very fortunate to start in this industry as a struggling 17 year old kid looking for a mentor and something to be passionate about. Wilderness therapy was Chase’s first stop in this industry and was truly a transcendental experience for him. Chase has an enormous love for this line of work and the power that it has in creating change in everyone involved. Chase’s biggest belief is the power a mentor, strong, healthy relationships, and accountability can have on anyone, especially youth. Taking a very relational approach to his work, Chase has always been very relatable to the students he works with. Being able to understand and relate to a vast variety of the same struggles as a lot of the students he works with has been able to help him continue to grow, learn, and teach. Chase believes that with great rapport and trust, he can use his experience to continue to coach and train new staff, and has the ability to find those staff with the passion for this industry, and help them grow. His love and passion can be felt the moment you talk with Chase about this industry and he passes that on to others he works with. In his spare time you will find Chase cheering for the Eagles, Yankees, and Mavericks, hanging out with his brother, learning more about Eastern Psychology, and continuing to grow and learn.