Give Oklahoma Youth a Safe Place to Begin Again
Your gift this season helps young people like Elio find stability, healing, and hope.
Meet Elio
When you meet Elio, you notice his spark—his curiosity, creativity, and optimism. But that spark survived years of instability, abuse, and trauma. Depression and anxiety took hold early, leading to suicide attempts in elementary school.
At 18, Elio was left alone in Oklahoma while his family moved across the country. With a lease ending and no support, he faced homelessness—until he connected with Mental Health Association Oklahoma’s Housing to Hope Youth Program (HHYP).
A Safe Place to Grow
HHYP provides transitional housing and wraparound support for young adults ages 18–24. For Elio, it meant a safe home, access to therapy, job training, and—most importantly—a place where he felt fully safe as both a Black and trans young person.
“If it weren’t for HHYP, I’d be on the street.”
“For the first time, I feel safe as who I am.”
With stability, his mental health improved. He began making music again, building skills, and planning for a future that once felt out of reach.
Your Support Matters Now More Than Ever
State funding cuts threaten programs like HHYP. Your generosity keeps this lifeline open—so youth like Elio can continue to find safety, healing, and the comfort and joy they deserve.
The Urgency of the Moment
Youth homelessness and trauma are not just numbers—they are lives on the line.
1 in 10
young adults (18 - 25) experience homelessness each year
Without safe housing, even the brightest youth face barriers in education, employment, and mental health stability.
1 in 5
unhoused youth report serious thoughts of suicide.
Stable housing and supportive programs dramatically reduce this risk and give youth a chance to heal.
21
young adults
Received individualized, life-changing support received individualized, life-changing support while being housed through MHAOK's Housing to Hope Youth Program.
Your gift today keeps these doors open and provides young people like Elio with the safety, support, and hope they desperately need. Every dollar ensures that more youth can have a place to call home, access therapy, and build the skills to thrive.
“I’ve learned that I can just be. HHYP lets you do the work while they support you.”
- Elio
About our mission
At Mental Health Association Oklahoma (MHAOK), we believe that every individual deserves safety, stability, and the opportunity to thrive. For 70 years, we’ve provided programs that address mental health, prevent homelessness, and support young adults, families, and communities across Oklahoma.
Through initiatives like the Housing to Hope Youth Program (HHYP), we provide transitional housing, mental health services, life-skills training, and a caring community for youth ages 18–24 who are experiencing—or at risk of—homelessness. Many have survived foster care, family instability, trafficking, or the incarceration of a parent.
Our mission is simple but powerful: to transform lives through hope, healing, and opportunity. With your support, we can continue to provide essential programs that give youth the tools and confidence to build a brighter future.
