Starting Right Now

Starting Right, Now is a nonprofit social service organization. It supports unaccompanied homeless youth in Tampa with long-term housing and individualized care. Youth receive help accessing food assistance and Medicaid, managing preventive and mental health care, and getting transportation to appointments. The program monitors academic progress and arranges tutoring and credit recovery, while helping youth plan for vocational training, college, or military service. Each young person is matched with a volunteer mentor and receives advocacy from mentors and staff. Support also includes employment preparation, banking and budgeting skills, financial literacy, and a trauma-informed after-school curriculum focused on life skills and positive peer connections. The organization also educates the community about youth homelessness and advocates for policies that protect unaccompanied youth.