WHEREAS, Valley Youth House opened its doors in Philadelphia in September of 2005 and has proudly carried out its mission for the past 20 years. Valley Youth House’s mission is to be the catalyst for youth to achieve their desired future through genuine relationships that support families, ensure safe places, and build community connections; and
WHEREAS, Valley Youth House’s expansion to Philadelphia was spearheaded by Bill Motsavage and Allison Moore, who launched a supportive housing program from new offices on 5th and Chestnut streets.; and
WHEREAS, Over the years, Allison Moore, Shani Meacham, and many others created and expanded Valley Youth House’s programming in creative, intentional, and thoughtful ways. This included taking on a DHS contract to manage the Achieving Independence Center in 2009, which provides independent living services to youth ages 14-21 who were in the foster care system. This also included the creation of a Youth Designated Access Point in 2014, which was an ingenious expansion of the street outreach and emergency services program that brought in over 360 youth experiencing homelessness in the first 9 months of operation; and
WHEREAS, Valley Youth House has also innovated in its approach to youth outreach through the creation of the Pride Program in 2020, which launched their first alternative shelter for
LGBTQ+ youth ages 18 to 24 and has since opened up two more transitional houses and expanded even more wraparound support services for LGBTQ+ youth; and
WHEREAS, Valley Youth House has most recently received funding from the School District of Philadelphia in 2023 to expand services to students experiencing homelessness and support individual schools’ capacity to identify youth in need of services; and
WHEREAS, Valley Youth House focuses services for youth and young adults on three main areas including education, employment, and housing. And also serve youth through street outreach, child welfare and life skills programs; and
WHEREAS, Valley Youth House now operates in 16 counties across Eastern Pennsylvania. Since the organization opened its doors in Pennsylvania in 1973, it has served over 481,000 young people and their families across the Commonwealth. In 2024, Valley Youth House served over 3,500 youth in the Philadelphia region; and
WHEREAS, Valley Youth House does more than just provide a home for Pennsylvania’s vulnerable, abused, and homeless youth. They partner with thousands of individuals each year to build a solid foundation for young people and their families, and advocate for preventing homelessness through policy, advocacy, and systems by centering youth and their lived experience; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby recognizes, congratulates, and celebrates
Valley Youth House on the distinguished occasion of its 20th Anniversary in Philadelphia; passionately serving young individuals to help them achieve their full potential by providing essential services like counseling, housing support, community
connections, and life training skills.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this Resolution will be presented to Valley Youth House as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.
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