The Unaccompanied Students Initiative (USI), a 501c3 non-profit (EIN: 83-2885380), became the focus of Strong Families Action Team due to a need identified through the Point in Time Count and McKinney-Vento data through Laramie County School District #1. Due to the need for homeless teen support throughout Wyoming, we have continued to expand – we now provide support to Laramie County, Natrona County, and Albany County teens.

• Provide a stable home for homeless teens that live in a variety of unsafe, temporary situations - including cars, parks, shelters, motels, and couch surfing.

• Provide a support system for participants in the USI program, allowing the youth to focus on obtaining their high school diploma or equivalent

• Teach life skills, such as resume writing, budgeting, goal setting and achievement, and personal advocating, so that once they graduate the USI program, they become productive, independent members of society.

• Stop the intergenerational cycles of homelessness

We have three active locations in:

Cheyenne, WY

Casper, WY

Laramie, WY

• Provides a safe and stable home setting for unaccompanied students by getting them off the streets.

• Provides resources to help the student resolve issues and stay in school.

• Promotes high school graduation and improved wage earning abilities.

• Helps make the student a productive member of the community.

2015-2017

• Laramie County Community Partnership’s Strong Families Action Team identifies a need for unaccompanied youth housing and support

• Laramie County School District #1, Catholic Charities of Wyoming, and volunteers offer “host homes” to homeless youth

2017

• Church of the Holy Trinity lends house to pilot offering shared student housing and services

• First student enters program

2018

• Unaccompanied Students Initiative (USI) is formed and registers as a 501c3 non-profit

• Ed Ernste awarded Compassion in Action award for donating the “Natalie House” to USI. The Natalie House is able to house up to 5 students in Laramie County.

• First Twin Home is built in Laramie County, providing room for up to 10 students

• First USI program participant graduates high school!

2020

• USI expands into Natrona County with the help of Highland Park Community Church. Casper is now able to offer support for up to 10 students

2022

• The Natalie House is sold to Family Promise to assist in addressing Laramie County’s family homelessness need

• USI is awarded the Hughes Grant to build a Twin Home in Natrona County

• USI breaks ground on new twin home in Casper, WY

2023

• Completion of the Greta House in Casper provides room for 14 students

• USI Laramie is established and is able to house 4 students

• USI is awarded its first federal grant to improve the mental health outcomes of rural students in the program