As ICE raids have escalated this past week as the Trump administration has ramped up its "aggressive push to raise arrest and deportation numbers," many in our YouthBuild Charter School of California community are scared and uncertain of what the future may hold. Unfortunately, some members of our community have already been directly effected by this new surge in arrests and deportations. And many more are now afraid to leave their homes to buy groceries, attend graduation, or go to work or school. Now, more than ever, we need your help to support our immigrant community. Please consider making a donation to our Building Hope Crisis Fund, which will support is in offering grocery and meal deliveries, housing and transportation support, support with legal representation, and more to the most vulnerable members of our immigrant community.
The Building Hope Crisis Fund has already provided much needed support to YCSC students. We hope Esteban's story inspires you to give. Esteban (not his real name) and his family avoided an uncertain future on the streets after an eviction. Like many of the 15% of YCSC students experiencing homelessness, Esteban had been missing school. Living in a car or in a shelter or on a friend's couch makes it difficult for homeless youth to obtain the nutrition and sleep necessary to thrive in school - particularly when one is already behind in credits. So, they drop out and never return - and a crisis becomes a permanent way of life.But, Esteban and his mom changed his trajectory by informing a caring YCSC counselor of his plight. Working with the YouthBuild partner on his campus, YCSC was able to secure a hotel room for Esteban and his family - but only temporarily, since school funds can only cover so much. Thankfully the family secured government assistance, but then their EBT card was stolen, and they were headed to the streets again. By that time, the Building Hope Crisis Fund had been established and Principal Sonia Hernandez used it to keep them housed.This funding was all they needed to survive a crisis that YCSC would not have otherwise had the funding flexibility to help them avoid. Esteban's mom has called Sonia multiple times to express their family's gratitude - and to share that there haven't been any new crises.
If you have friends or family who'd like to help our immigrant community by contributing to the Building Help Crisis Fund, please ask them to donate here. If they have questions or want to help in another way, please have them contact our Development Director Cathy Brandt at (323) 610-9478 or [email protected]. Here's a video you can also pass along. Anything helps. Thank you for your support!