Youth Action Board (YAB)

The Greater Richmond Continuum of Care (GRCoC) believes young people who have experienced homelessness should help decide about how to prevent and end youth homelessness in our community. The GRCoC Youth Action Board (YAB) is a group of young people who help make decisions about youth homelessness. 

The GRCoC YAB is a committee of the GRCoC and follows a set of rules in a charter [LINK]. The YAB suggests ways to improve GRCoC policies and services. They also help decide how money for youth homelessness programs is spent. Sometimes, they give advice to organizations working to help homeless youth. The GRCoC Board approves who is on the YAB and gives the final okay on their suggestions.

Join the YAB! Applications Are Open!

Apply here: https://forms.gle/XCg3pdht68uCEh5L9

Deadline: Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at 11:59 p.m.

Contact Information: If you have questions about the YAB or the application, contact Erika at erika@solutionssandbox.com or 804-839-8525.

What YAB Members Do:

• Go to quarterly meetings to learn and talk about youth homelessness issues. All meetings are at Change the World RVA (inside Centenary United Methodist Church) at 411 E. Grace St, Richmond. The meetings are 2.5 hours long from 12 noon to 2:30 p.m.

1. Wednesday, May 21, 2025
2. Wednesday, August 20, 2025
3. Wednesday, November 19, 2025
4. Wednesday, February 18, 2026

• Work with other YAB members to review and agree on GRCoC and program policies, ways to improve services for homeless youth, and how money for youth homelessness programs is spent.
• Respond to phone calls, texts, or emails within two business days about meetings, attendance, pay, food, etc.

Who Can Join:

• Commit to be a member for one year.
• Live in the GRCoC service area (Richmond City and Counties of Charles City, Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, New Kent, and Powhatan).
• Have experienced homelessness (couch surfing, staying in a hotel, shelter, or housing program, sleeping in a car or outside).
• Be 18 to 24 years old.
• Can get yourself to in-person meetings at 411 E. Grace St, Richmond.
• Want to help prevent and end youth homelessness.
• Can read and give feedback on documents about youth homelessness (with some training).
• Respond to phone calls, texts, and emails as needed.

Why Join the YAB:

• Help solve youth homelessness in the Richmond region.
• Get paid $150 (before taxes) for each meeting (about four meetings a year).
• Get lunch at each meeting.
• Meet people who work on youth homelessness.
• Learn skills and gain experience in leadership and youth homelessness issues.

Support: YAB members are independent contractors. Each YAB member will be supported by a youth-homelessness organization. The organizations include Commonwealth Catholic Charities, Daily Planet Health Services, HomeAgain, Housing Families First, and Virginia Home for Boys and Girls.