The Sanctuary is a free and safe 24-hour shelter that provides 3-week residential counseling to youths in crisis between the ages of 10-17, with the goal of reuniting youths with their families. We are in the process of moving this program to a new location and need your help. We would like to furnish the facility with updated housewares and are asking that you donate or share so that we can make the Sanctuary feel like a home to those that need it.

Success Stories:

A young man entered into Sanctuary services after being kicked out of his mother’s home, and experiencing conflict in his father’s home. When he first came to the Sanctuary, the client was struggling with his academics, and his parents were concerned that he wouldn’t graduate from high school. While working with a Sanctuary counselor, the young man learned how to challenge and change his negative self-talk, and to break free from the negative labels that had been put on him and made him angry. He even began to express his needs to his family, something that he had struggled to do before coming to the Sanctuary. After his stay at the Sanctuary, the young man and his family continued to engage in aftercare counseling and worked to improve their familial relationships. Because he was continuing to struggle in school, the young man and his family decided to have him enroll in the Michigan Youth Challenge Academy. While at the Academy, the young man persisted to earn his high school diploma, and a Sanctuary counselor wrote him letters of encouragement. Eventually, the young man completed the Academy program, and obtained his high school diploma.

A GAP client who had aged out of foster care was struggling to find a job, and attend meetings with his case manager and counselor. He was also quickly using up the savings he had because of a lack of income. The GAP staff decided to have a team meeting with the client to encourage him to keep looking for employment. The client’s counselor noted that for this young man, who had grown up in the foster care system, this team meeting helped him realize that he had the ability and agency to make his own choices and direct his life. While in foster care he felt that other people always made the choices that most drastically impacted his life; finally, he was able to make those choices for himself. After finding a job, the young man worked diligently, and eventually found a better job that afforded him a higher income. As he persisted in his employment, the GAP staff noticed that he became more consistent with his other responsibilities, such as paying rent and attending meetings. Now, the young man lives in an apartment of his own, and desires to come back to inspire and impact the lives of youth like him through the GAP program.

Common Ground

Helping People Move From Crisis To Hope.

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Help us Furnish the Sanctuary - a free shelter for teens

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