Youth On Their Own

Youth On Their Own supports the high school graduation and continued success of youth experiencing homelessness.

Youth On Their Own (YOTO) supports youth experiencing homelessness in Pima County by providing financial assistance, meeting basic human needs, and offering guidance. Since 1986, thousands of young people experiencing homelessness have been empowered to stay in school and pursue opportunities for self-sufficiency. In fact, despite all the obstacles they face, YOTO seniors graduate at a rate of 93%!

YOTO is committed to doing everything we can to ensure all YOTO students feel supported and have the resources they need to keep going.

YOUR support helps YOTO students meet their goals. The YOTO Family is more than just YOTO staff and students. YOU provide the encouragement and the resources that make the success stories of our youth possible; YOU make YOTO's work happen. On this Arizona Gives Day, we invite you to donate to YOTO students.

To learn more about youth homelessness, please visit yoto.org.

Testimonials

During the 2023-2024 school year, YOTO enrolled 1,668 students - a 10% increase over the previous year - and saw a graduation rate of 93%!

By donating to YOTO this AZ Gives Day, you can provide essential resources to youth in Pima County. Every donation made to YOTO shows local youth experiencing homeless that their community believes in them, invests in them, and wants to see them succeed!

Below are some quotes from YOTO youth.

"Support from YOTO has meant a lot to me because I love being able to provide for myself without having a job and focusing on school."

"YOTO has provided so much support with finances, being there and providing services, the Mini Mall, etc."

"The support from YOTO has helped me in many ways. I was able to stay in contact with long distance family members, and pay bills I was struggling with all on my own."

"YOTO gave me the confidence to graduate from both Tucson High and JTED. They also gave me the guidance I needed while preparing to become a new mother."

"YOTO support has meant A LOT, especially this semester, not only financially but also mentally. They have been helping me in many ways to accomplish my goals."

"The support from YOTO has allowed me to become less stressed about transitioning from high school to university. They've provided many great resources for things like FAFSA, scholarships, and helped connect me to Pima Community College."

"In the past year, the support I received from YOTO has made my life possible. I would not have been able to afford groceries, day-to-day expenses, and emergency costs without the YOTO stipend."