A reminder from our Treatment Director of the Emergency Shelter: Progress isn’t always linear.
There may be setbacks, pauses, and moments where growth doesn’t feel obvious. That does not mean your journey is wrong.
Your path does not have to look like everyone else’s to be meaningful.
#mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthawarenessmonth #lifeworks
The youth we served showed up as experts. Because they are. 💙
Last week, LifeWorks was invited to a FYI roundtable hosted by HUD in San Antonio, one of only three cities selected, where young people from our community shared their stories directly with federal housing leaders.
Here’s why this matters: 59% of youth experiencing homelessness in Austin have a history of foster care. FYI vouchers, providing at least three years of housing stability for youth who’ve been in the system, are one of the most powerful tools we have to change that.
Austin is leading voucher utilization in Texas. And we’ll keep showing up wherever there’s an opportunity to advance solutions for young people.
If you want to support the work we do, click the link in our bio.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Take time to invest in your well-being, because your mental health matters—this month & every month. 💛
#mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealth #wellbeing #lifeworks #austin
In Austin, 1 in 3 youth experiencing homelessness have been involved in the juvenile legal system. Keeping young people out of the system—and offering alternatives that don’t leave a lasting record—is key to reducing the path into homelessness.
That’s why LifeWorks was proud to host the One for Justice Summit and be part of the conversation around real solutions.
We shared how the Travis County Transformation Project, along with our flexible financial assistance model and @denisecreateschange Transformative Youth Justice Program, are helping young people find stability.
It was an honor to be in a room with experts in the field and to hear firsthand from individuals with lived experience whose lives have been changed by this work.
Together, we can continue to build systems that support young people earlier, remove barriers faster, and create lasting pathways to opportunity and growth.
If you are feeling uncertain about the path you are walking, let this post remind you that you are not alone.
According to National Institute of Mental Health, about 1 in 3 young adults experience anxiety. Many are trying to figure out what comes next in real time.
The path you’re on doesn’t have to look like everyone else’s. We are all working toward our own version of a life we truly love. All that matters is the way you show up for yourself!
#lifeyoulove #mentalhealthmatters #LifeWorks #austin
What if we could prevent youth homelessness before it even began?
Once homeless, a young person's path back to housing get steeper and steeper. If we want different outcomes, we have to show up earlier— and with greater intention.
Early intervention isn't always the most visible part of this work, but it's often the difference between risk and long-term security.
Grateful to @invisiblepeople and @iamhardlynormal for featuring LifeWorks CEO, Liz Schoenfeld, Ph.D. and elevating this important work.
To read the article about LifeWorks' prevention efforts, click the link in our bio.
#Lifeworks #prevention #youthhomelessness #austin #atx
In March, a young person experiencing homelessness for over a year moved into their own apartment—in just five days—with support from LifeWorks.
It only took five days— from first contact to keys in hand. After more than a year without a home. That kind of urgency doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built through trust, preparation, and teamwork at every step
Every move-in is something to celebrate & on average, LifeWorks helps young people move into housing in under 40 days. This is nearly 4 months faster than the community average!
Every young person deserves a place to call home and the chance to focus on what comes next. LifeWorks is grateful to be part of the work that continues to move that timeline forward.
#Lifeworks #austin #youthhomelessness #Prevention #austintx
If you’re 24 or younger and experiencing homelessness, LifeWorks Youth Resource Center (YRC) will be open to support young people and families in accessing shelter, providing a warm meal, and answering any questions.
YRC Hours
⏰12–5 PM
📍 YRC Location: 835 N Pleasant Valley Rd
📞 YRC Line: (512) 653-8230
LifeWorks staff will be available to help young people navigate the Cold Weather Shelter process, plan transportation to registration, and connect with outreach support as needed.
City of Austin Cold Weather Shelter
📍 One Texas Center (505 Barton Springs Rd)
🕕 Registration: 6–8 PM
Individuals register at One Texas Center and are then transported to an overnight shelter location. Shelter sites are assigned after registration, and transportation from the registration site to the shelter will be provided.
🚌 Bus routes serving One Texas Center include: 1, 7, 10, 20, 30, 105, and 801. CapMetro fares are not required when traveling to registration for Cold Weather Shelter. Some routes or stops may be affected by SXSW, so please plan ahead.
Daytime warming centers are also open across Austin. For more information, visit austinitexas.gov/alerts or call (512) 972-5055.
Together, our community raised $30,650 for LifeWorks during Amplify Austin!
Because of you, LifeWorks can continue opening doors for youth exiting homelessness right here in our city. Your gift gives young people access to safe housing, mental health support, education, and workforce opportunities- getting one step closer to living a life they love.
We’re so grateful to live in a community that believes in our youth and in the mission of LifeWorks. Thank you for showing up, giving back, and standing with the people we serve.
#lifeworks #amplifyaustin #homelessnessprevention #austin #givingback
Why do we Amplify LifeWorks?
⭐️Because behind every program is a young person working toward stability.
💛Because every day, our staff show up with compassion, expertise, and belief in what’s possible.
There is so much to amplify — hope, resilience, opportunity, and futures in the making.
This is why we do the work. This is why we Amplify LifeWorks.
You, too, can Amplify LifeWorks. Click the link in our bio to make a gift today!
#amplifyaustin #lifeworks #homelessnessprevention #austin #atx
Central Texas’ largest giving day is officially live!
This Amplify Austin, you have the opportunity to expand resources and create real pathways to stability for youth exiting homelessness.
🚍📍$25 provides monthly bus passes for two young people commuting to work.
🛒🍎 $100 provides a month of nourishing groceries for a youth served by LifeWorks.
Your gift in the next 24 hours can open doors for young people in Austin who are working toward lasting independence.
Amplify LifeWorks today — tap the link in our bio to give.
#youthhomelessness #atx #amplifyaustin #giving #lifeworks
Young people exiting homelessness come to LifeWorks with complex, interconnected needs. Housing instability is often tied to family dynamics, mental health challenges, and economic stress — requiring solutions that go beyond housing alone.
That’s why our work centers on wraparound services: safe housing, education support, workforce development, and mental health care — all working together to help young people build lasting independence.
This Amplify Austin, you have the opportunity to open doors for young people seeking the resources they need to begin living a life they love.💛
Amplify Austin starts tomorrow, but you don’t have to wait! Click the link in our bio to give your gift now.
#AmplifyAustin #lifeworks #austintx #givingback #homelessnessprevention
