Our Mission
To provide young people with the supports and resources they need on their journey towards independence.
Our Vision
A world in which all young people feel safe, supported and empowered to pursue their dreams.
HOW WE BEGAN
The Homeward Initiative was founded in May 2019 through a $150,000 grant from the University of Pennsylvania to address the lack of LGBTQ-affirming housing for young people in Philadelphia.
Who we are
Brendan Taliaferro, Founder
After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 2019, Brendan founded the Homeward Initiative to address issues of homelessness and housing insecurity among youth in Philadelphia. He won the President's Engagement Prize, a $150k social impact grant, to develop Philadelphia’s first Host Homes program for LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness. He has since moved the Homeward Initiative to New York, where he is working to develop an affordable housing model for community college students.