Where can youth go in a time of emergency or trouble when home isn’t an option?

Promising Futures of Central Indiana has given youth in Hamilton and Tipton counties options since 2002 with its Host Homes Program, and it’s looking for more families to open their doors and lives to children and teenagers in need.

The nonprofit organization, 294 S. Ninth St., Noblesville, is holding an informational meeting about the program on July 23 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Host Homes serves children ages 7 to 17 that are dealing with challenges from homelessness to family conflict to divorce to a family going through a housing or medical crisis, according to Amanda Summers, Safe Place and Host Homes coordinator at Promising Futures.

“We just work with youths who are dealing with these challenging issues,” Summers said, “and we’re able to utilize our Host Homes Program to provide shelter anywhere from one night to 21 days.”

Summers said the length of the stay goes on a case-by-case basis.

She said volunteer families, vetted through background checks and more, care for a child’s basic needs while the organization works with both the youth and family to resolve what triggered the crisis.

“Our goal’s always to reunite the child with their family as soon as possible,” Summers said.

Currently, Promising Futures has four homes that provide this service, but Summers said the goal is to get 20 families with the program, but more are welcome.

Families that host youth do not need to be social workers or able to give therapy, she said.

“Our best host homes are patient, understanding (and) willing to just be a listening ear and to be a support,” she said.

While it doesn’t always happen, she said it’s the organization’s hope that the youth develops and maintains a relationship, as well as communicates with their host families after they leave.

“It’s really cool how that works,” she said.

For more information, call Summers at 773-6342 or e-mail her at [email protected]. To learn more about Promising Futures of Central Indiana and its other programs and services, visit www.promisingfutures.org.