Financial setbacks mean something different for youth experiencing homelessness.

A new savings program at Eva’s Phoenix and Youth Belong aims to help youth become more financially literate and save for their future. It’s delivered as part of Eva’s life skills programming and integrated into case management.

“When we meet with a young person, savings is part of the whole picture we look at to help them figure out their next steps,” said Annik Scholz, Team lead for Eva’s Youth Belong Program.

Resources such as brochures that outline the savings programs of the banks closest to Eva’s and a budgeting poster help youth see what’s available.

The program features a four-workshop series presented by Checks Over Strikes, a financial literacy mentoring program for youth in low-income areas. Founders Dean Chambers and Craig Brown are the authors of Don’t Be a Waste Yute: The Financial Literacy Guide, which is now part of Eva’s transitional housing program’s move-in kit.

“When the workshop comes around, youth want to join because they’ve read the book. And by the time they come to the workshop, they have an idea of what they want to learn,” said Scholz.

As a Black-focused organization—72% of the youth we serve self-identify as Black—Eva’s gears our case management to the seven principles of Kwanzaa, which includes Ujamaa, cooperative economics: “To build our businesses, control the economics of our own community and share in all its work and wealth.”

The savings program aims to fulfil this principle, and the Checks Over Strikes curriculum and its leaders are a huge part of that.

“Our program is intentional about engaging with Black businesses and stretching the Black dollar in our communities. It’s equally important for youth to connect with Black professionals in multiple areas of life. Dean and Craig provide financial literacy education and they’re also a great example of Black success in the community,” said Scholz.