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The Face of America's Homeless Youth by Jim Spellman

As part of CNN.com's inAMERICA series of articles, the new organization today has a feature spotlighting homeless youth in America. Please take a moment to read the article and view the slide show that highlights the struggle of these young people.

Poetry from Ozone House Rides The Ride by Jordan Miller

The poems written by Ozone House youth were placed in 70 AATA buses through the joint efforts of 826 Michigan, Ozone House, and the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority.

Homeless Programs Hit Skid Row by John Kelly

Perspective from the folks at Youth Today Magazine on why more agencies are cutting back or shutting down.

Home Away from Home by Sharon Gittleman

A great article in the Ann Arbor Family Press that features an interview with Jeanne and Joe Learman, two of Ozone House's longest-running supporters.

Recession Drives Surge in Youth Runaways &

For Runaways, Sex Buys Survival

This October, the New York Times ran two incredibly powerful articles on runaway and homeless youth. The articles are a reminder of the abuse and neglect that many youth experience before running away, the lack of support and resources they find in most communities, and the risk of sexual exploitation and solicitation that many of them face as they attempt to live out each day.

Please visit the two links above, watch the videos, and share with your friends and family.

Runaways: How The Sixties Counterculture Shaped Today's Practices And Policies by Karen M. Staller

A compelling new book, written by Ozone House board member Karen M. Staller. "Runaways offers an informative description of the history of service development and media construction of runaway youth in America." Emilie Smeaton, Child and Family Social Work

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Youth: An Epidemic of Homelessness by Nicholas Ray, with chapters contributed by Ozone House employees

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that the number of homeless and runaway youth ranges from 575,000 to 1.6 million per year. Between 20 and 40 percent of all homeless youth identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT). It is this reality that prompted the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (the Task Force), in collaboration with the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH), to produce this publication.

Prom Exchange: Ozone House Plays Fairy Godmother

The Ann Arbor Observer 5/1/09 This April, Ozone House was buzzing with excitement about our third annual Prom Exchange! When the dust settled, we had provided 70 young women in need with dresses, shoes, and accessories - all free of charge.

Prom Exchange is a highly anticipated event that allows many young women, who might otherwise be unable to attend prom, a chance to find something special to wear and enjoy a fun and memorable prom night. Shoppers came from nearly every high school in the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti area.

Thanks to the generosity of friends and neighbors in our community, we collected more than 275 formal dresses, together with shoes, an assortment of fun makeup, jewelry & accessories. Clients were able to "shop" for free at Ozone House's main facility in Ann Arbor and at the Ozone Drop-In in Ypsilanti.

"My dress is special to me because of the way I look and feel in it - like a princess!" said one young woman.

Many shoppers look forward to prom as last hurrah with high school friends. "It's your last year of school, the last time you'll see everybody - you're all grown up!" said an excited attendee.

Michigan Radio Features the Ozone Drop-In Recording Studio

WUOM 91.7 Ann Arbor/Detroit 3/26/09 Click the link above to hear the broadcast and read a transcript.

Ozone House Youth Selected as Keynote Speaker at National Network for Youth Symposium in Washington, D.C.

The Ann Arbor News 2/5/09 Local 19 year old Andrew Swain knows the meaning of the word change. He is a Peer Educator at the Ozone Drop-In in Ypsilanti, and a previous volunteer with Planned Parenthood’s Project Straight Talk. When he graduated from Milan High School last year, Swain had logged nearly 360 hours of community service. On Sunday, January 25, 2009 Swain had the opportunity to inspire change in our nation’s youth and policymakers as Youth Keynote Speaker at the National Network for Youth Symposium in Washington, D.C. Click the link above to read the Ann Arbor News Story and see a video of Swain's speech!

Ozone House board member, David Keren, battles stinging wind, altitude sickness to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro

The Ann Arbor News 6/19/08 David Keren reached the 19,340-foot summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, the only mountain he has climbed, on Feb. 8, 2008. Our board members are the coolest!

Ozone House Provides Over 65 Youth in Need with Prom Dresses, Suits, Accessories

May 1, 2008 Our second annual Prom Exchange was an incredible success! Thank you to those community members who donated over 300 dresses, suits and accessories in a wide variety of sizes so that many young people were able to find a special outfit that not only fit, but fit their individual style.

Ozone House Youth Spearhead Cleanup

The Ann Arbor News 7/22/07 "Nearly a year after finding a permanent home for their drop-in center at 102 N. Hamilton St., youth from Ozone House now have their sights set on beautifying their new neighborhood." Seth Gordon, The Ann Arbor News Staff Reporter

Gay Youth Find Place to Call Home in Specialty Shelters

The New York Times, 5/18/07 Former Ozone House Executive Director Mary Jo Callan and Case Manager Krista Girty offer their perspective and expertise regarding the need to increase awareness among child welfare advocates of the high number of gay youth in the homeless population and the special problems they face. Studies have reported that as many as 40% of runaway and homeless youth are forced to leave home due to their sexual orientation.

Ozone House Provides Youth in Need with Prom Dresses, Accessories

May 15, 2007 Ozone House held its first-ever Prom Exchange, providing area youth in need with prom dresses, suits, and accessories.

Ozone House Leads Communities Empowering Youth Capacity Building Initiative

April 20, 2007 Communities Empowering Youth is an initiative between Ozone House and six other local service agencies to build capacity to advance positive youth development in Ypsilanti.

Ozone House Helps Fill Foster Care Gap

The Ann Arbor News 4/08/07 Elizabeth Warren's letter to the editor thanking the news for the important coverage of youth aging out of foster care, and reminding readers that Ozone House provides critical support for those youth who have aged out of foster care at age 17 or 18 and lack the resources and support systems to start life on their own.