Press Release

March 5, 2008

 

Contact:
Caroline Burns
(202) 225-3631

 

OPEN ARMS OF ALBANY RECEIVES $200K GRANT
Will use funds to help homeless and runaway youth

 

Washington, D.C. Congressman Sanford Bishop, Representative for Georgia’s Second Congressional District, today announced that Open Arms, Inc. of Albany is the recipient of a $199,850 grant from the United States Department of Health and Human Services.  Open Arms will invest the funding in its Transitional Living Program, which provides safe and stable housing for youth ages 16-21 who are runaways or homeless.

 

“Open Arms not only gives shelter to these youth, but puts them back on track toward leading normal, productive, adult lives,” said Congressman Bishop. “We will see this investment returned to the community many times over.”

 

Through a variety of structured services, Open Arms encourages youth to assume greater responsibility for their transition, achieve self-sufficiency, and avoid long term dependency on social services.  This includes signing behavior contracts, finding employment, paying rent, and maintaining a household. Services are also offered to pregnant and parenting youth.

 

"The best way to change tomorrow is to start with the youth of today,” said Rosalynn Fowler, spokeswoman for Open Arms.

 

Founded in 1991, Open Arms has expanded to include six other programs that broaden the availability of life altering programs which provide protection, prevention, advocacy or support for children. For more information, contact (229) 431-1121.

 

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