Destined to Flourish
- Photos by Lana Eklund
- "Destined to Flourish" originally appeared in the September 2024 "Education" issue of COMO Magazine.
+8 Destined to Flourish
Destined to Flourish
Destined to Flourish
Destined to Flourish
Destined to Flourish
Destined to Flourish
Destined to Flourish
Destined to Flourish
Destined to Flourish
Shelter for homeless, traumatized teens focuses on safety and life skills.
A colorful, inviting mural in the split-level entry is the first feature greeting visitors to Flourish, Columbia’s shelter for youth experiencing homelessness. The mural, a donated creation of local mural artist Adrienne Luther, resembles a koi fish pond with a variety of lily pads, bubbles, and calming colors of blue and green.
The bubbles are an added touch with a distinct purpose.
“She designed it to reflect the koi fish underneath the water needing the protection of the pond — the pond symbolizing Flourish,” said Flourish Executive Director Beatrice Stewart. “When the youths are here, they have the safety and security needed to thrive. Our goal is that those living here will put their initials or special customization on the bubbles throughout the mural.”
In 2019, a team of Veterans United employees joined with a vision to positively impact the community. They decided to focus their efforts on the homeless youth and those facing the challenges of socioeconomic barriers in Columbia. Through research and in-depth interviews, the VU team became aware of how educational opportunities aided in breaking the cycle of economic inequality, giving youths potential for a more financially secure future.
When the core group of employees at VU wanted to start a community impact project, they considered a few avenues but ultimately landed on helping youth in the community. Flourish transitional housing was previously the Pathways Substance Abuse Treatment Center for in-patient youth. That center, however, had to close its doors, halting one housing option for homeless youth and leaving large gaps in services for them.
“There were a lot of discussions happening on the gaps, homelessness in youth, and a need for a shelter,” Stewart explained. “The Rainbow House exists, but it is only a temporary emergency shelter. There was a need for longer-term housing to help get the youths back on the right track.”
The transitional housing for youths between the ages of 16 to 25 began as a six-room home but has now expanded to ten rooms, thanks to a basement remodel that was finished late last fall. The four rooms on the lower level are for the youths on the independent living track. Those rooms are outfitted to resemble a dorm room or an apartment with a twin-sized bed, mini-fridge, microwave, desk, dresser, and a small TV. Since the youths on the independent living track are preparing to move into their own space, they can come and go as they please. They still must abide by the rules; however, the remodel offers them a space to be more self-sufficient.
The six rooms upstairs are for the youths on the supportive living track. Time is structured to include weekly life skills classes where a presenter talks about things they youths should know. For example, Central Bank will make a presentation about budgeting. The Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture will teach them about planting the garden at Flourish, complete with a farm-to-table activity and making dinner.
Youths at Flourish have established goals with benchmarks to help keep them on track, and staff check with them regularly to make sure they are progressing in finding employment, finding a therapist, or other needs.
The staff at Flourish is a fully trained medtech staff, capable of doling out prescription medication and handling other medical needs that require immediate intervention. The staff helps the youths with getting a job and transporting them to their appointments. Many are connected with therapists and other mental health professionals to help manage trauma they may have experienced from being homeless or due to other dangerous situations. Statistics also bear out that LGBTQ youth are especially vulnerable to homelessness due to their family conflicts.
Since Flourish opened, it has served thirty-four youths for just over 6,100 bed nights.
“We have a lot of experience with LGBTQ youth,” Stewart explained. “Our staff are all trained for those situations. That is something unique about our program; we have a lot of youth exploring their gender and sexuality. We try to provide whatever services they need to help them stabilize.”
Every area of the shelter is used, with multi-purpose family rooms, offices for staff, and even a coffee bar. “Nathan’s Corner” is named after a Veterans United employee who donated most of the furnishings and decorations as a legacy project for him. The walls in the dining room, where the staff and youths gather for family meals, are covered with bright and lively artwork, and every corner is stuffed full of colored pencils, paint, scissors, and other art supplies.
“I actually just wrote a grant trying to get a little art shed outside. Many of our youths are very creative and artistic,” Stewart added. “I want to give them a dedicated space to be able to work on their art and ability to express themselves.”