Bridge Over Troubled Waters today announced that it has received a $250,000 grant from Bank of America to support its programs and to strengthen Bridge’s foundation to scale these proven life-changing programs for homeless, runaway and at-risk youth.

“Bank of America has supported Bridge Over Troubled Waters since the 1970s. Their increased investment in our work now underscores the importance of our partnership and their strong belief in the future of youth experiencing homelessness, the majority of whom are Black and brown,” said Elisabeth Jackson, Chief Executive Officer of Bridge Over Troubled Waters. “I am continually grateful for their support, which will strengthen our ability to guide more youth to stability and self-sufficiency.”

Even before COVID, Bridge experienced an increased demand for services and encountered more youth with tremendously complex barriers to stability. The pandemic has forced more youth into homelessness; the growing mental health crisis and obstacles to academic and economic success are complicating each youth’s pathway home.

“We recognize the challenges facing at-risk youth, as well as the critical role played by nonprofits like Bridge Over Troubled Waters in providing support and services,” said Miceal Chamberlain, President, Bank of America Massachusetts. “By investing in resources that help young people stay healthy and become self-sufficient adults, we are strengthening the community where we live and work.”

The grant will help bolster Bridge’s wide-ranging youth development programs, including behavioral and mental health counseling, life skills development, transitional housing, academic support, and career development. In addition, the grant will help Bridge strengthen the foundation on which all of its programming is built as the organization grows in capacity to meet the needs of more youth and deepens the scope of services to provide more individualized and comprehensive services for each youth.

The crisis of youth homelessness is growing:

• According to research conducted by the University of Chicago:

  • 1 in 13 youth between the ages of 13-25, estimated at more than 4 million, have experienced homelessness over a 12-month period

  • Black and African American youth have an 83 percent higher risk of becoming homeless

  • LGBTQ+ youth are 120 percent more likely to experience homelessness

• 50 percent of youth who are homeless are unsheltered, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness

• The prevalence of homelessness among people between the ages of 14 and 24 is growing, and many of the young people who become homeless are being both physically and sexually abused or exploited, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

• Every year, Bridge provides services to 2,000 youth and between 70 and 80 percent of those youth have experienced trauma or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

A recent survey of youth in Bridge’s Transitional Day Program shows:

• 76 percent experienced abuse during childhood

• 65 percent have been violently robbed on the streets

• 51 percent witnessed domestic violence

• 47 percent report severe to moderate depressive symptoms at intake

• 59 percent have been involved in foster care

• 51 percent are employed

• 28 percent are in high school or working on their high school equivalency test

About Bridge Over Troubled Waters
Bridge Over Troubled Waters, founded in 1970, is the largest agency in Greater Boston providing a full continuum of care to homeless, runaway, and at-risk youth. Each year, Bridge serves more than 2,000 youth through a comprehensive range of survival, health, educational, career, and housing programs in order to encourage the formation of a healthy, productive, and fulfilling adulthood.  For more information, visit www.BridgeOTW.org.

About Bank of America
At Bank of America, we’re guided by a common purpose to help make financial lives better, through the power of every connection. We’re delivering on this through responsible growth with a focus on our environmental, social and governance (ESG) leadership. ESG is embedded across our eight lines of business and reflects how we help fuel the global economy, build trust and credibility, and represent a company that people want to work for, invest in and do business with. It’s demonstrated in the inclusive and supportive workplace we create for our employees, the responsible products and services we offer our clients, and the impact we make around the world in helping local economies thrive. An important part of this work is forming strong partnerships with nonprofits and advocacy groups, such as community, consumer and environmental organizations, to bring together our collective networks and expertise to achieve greater impact. Learn more at about.bankofamerica.com, and connect with us on Twitter (@BofA_News).