In this season of low oil prices and crisis in the state budget, there is great uncertainty. This recent article in the Daily News Miner drives home the new reality for many nonprofits across the entire state. How do we serve more with less? The question is no longer hypothetical.

As the number of youth overnighting at The Door rises, our commitment remains the same. Homeless kids are like all kids; they want to be loved and know they’re worth loving. A critical piece to this love puzzle is safety and shelter; our mandate, the baton that we picked up and have been running with for two + years, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.

Stable funding is critical, yet a substantial portion of our funding, the Basic Homeless Assistance Program, is absent from Governor Walker’s budget. We will meet this new challenge like all others; using the resources we have, and creatively seeking solutions while continuing to establish stable funding sources. We are excited for the days ahead, and look forward to the new challenges. We look to our kids, our heros in survival, our rays of hope.

(Graphic Design inspired by youth artist at The Door)