Arizona LGBTQ Nonprofit, one•n•ten, Receives Generous $500,000 Grant From The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation.

Addressing a growing issue, one•n•ten will use the funds to provide additional housing to at-risk LGBTQ youth

one•n•ten today announced The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation has gifted the Arizona-based nonprofit with a $501,072 grant devoted to protecting the health, safety and emotional well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. Specifically, this two-year grant will allow one•n•ten to provide more at-risk LGBTQ youth with safe, supportive housing through the Promise of a New Day program. The grant will also support a development director and part-time program coordinator for program evaluation and management. These resources will enable one•n•ten to not only sustain, but grow their critical programs and services.

“Through the generous support of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, one•n•ten will be able to continue to address this growing national issue and move forward with programs to help struggling LGBTQ youth in the Phoenix area,” said Linda Elliott, one•n•ten Executive Director. “Our housing program is one of the largest in the Valley and, unlike other programs, one•n•ten provides more than just a bed. We offer a new way of life for youth whose families and loved ones may have rejected them.”

Studies suggest that LGBTQ youth suffering from homelessness have dramatically worse outcomes than other homeless populations. one•n•ten goes beyond providing shelter and works to address the specific needs of this group. The organization’s Promise of a New Day program is designed to help one•n•ten youth gain the skills necessary to successfully transition to independent living. Case managers work closely with the youth to ensure they have the resources to succeed, including job training, development of leadership skills, counseling, educational opportunities and guidance with personal goal-setting.

“The unfortunate truth is that LGBTQ youth can be faced with challenges that put them at higher risk for homelessness,” said entrepreneur and philanthropist Bob Parsons. “Everyone, especially at-risk teenagers, need a safe and encouraging environment to flourish; one•n•ten is providing just that.”

Following an alarming national trend, homelessness among young people in Arizona is on the rise. Last year the Central Arizona Shelter System served more than 600 homeless youth in the Metro-Phoenix area. Despite the fact that LGBTQ individuals only make up roughly 10 percent of the population, it is estimated that 40 percent of the nation’s homeless children are LGBTQ. To meet this growing need, the organization has expanded to include satellite locations in Tempe, Glendale, Scottsdale, Mesa and South Phoenix. Open to youth ages 14 – 24, one•n•ten works to provide the tools necessary to improve self-esteem and develop life skills.

“We are pleased to support one•n•ten in their exceptional outreach to youth who might otherwise feel trapped by despair and isolation,” said Renee Parsons. “one•n•ten is offering hope to LGBTQ youth and providing them with opportunities to build happier, healthier, lives.”

Founded in 1993, one•n•ten works to create a safe space, mentally and physically, for youth of all socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. Last year alone the nonprofit served more than 1,000 LGBTQ youth. This recent grant will allow the organization to expand its reach and help even more struggling youth. Through various programs such as Promise of a New Day, Camp OUTDoors! – the largest LGBTQ camp in the country – and the “Q High” high school diploma program, one•n•ten will continue delivering innovative and results-focused services for at-risk LGBTQ youth. To learn more, visit onenten.org.

About one•n•ten
one•n•ten is a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving and assisting LGBTQ youth. They provide youth aged 14 to 24 with tools to improve self-esteem by providing access to social programs that promote self‐acceptance, leadership development and healthy life choices. one•n•ten provides a comprehensive set of programs and services, including supportive youth centers, housing programs, employment programs, Q High, athletics, arts and music, and partnerships with national LGBTQ organizations. one·n·ten is building a world where all LGBTQ youth and young adults are embraced for who they are, actively engaged in their communities and empowered to lead.