Youngstown Bluecoats Org

The mission of Youngstown Blue Coats, a 501c(3) non-profit organization founded in 2017, is straightforward, “In America, nobody should freeze to death.” During winter, we distribute warming items (coats, boots, gloves, hats, scarves, sleeping mats/bags, and more) to homeless veterans and other homeless in Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio. We also advocate for those who need assistance, and we work with diverse area agencies to provide each individual we encounter the resources he/she needs. YBC depends entirely on volunteers; there are no paid staff and all funds go directly to our mission. The target audience for Youngstown Blue Coats (YBC) is homeless veterans and other homeless individuals in Northeastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. This includes sheltered and unsheltered homeless. Our mission and objectives are based on meeting the physical needs of homeless individuals to ensure that they are warm, dry, and well during winter. Beyond providing warming items necessary to prevent injuries due to cold temperatures, we also strive to identity and address the diverse health care needs, including mental health needs, of homeless individuals we encounter (Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania areas). We collaborate with numerous area agencies to ensure that those health care and other needs are met. YBC is the only organization in its region within the Eastern Ohio/Western PA area that serves homeless veterans and other homeless living outdoors. In addition, and very significantly, YBC works to identify where these individuals live and goes directly to them to distribute essential warming items. In fact, other organizations contact YBC when they encounter homeless individuals living outdoors so that YBC can assist these homeless who otherwise may not receive needed and essential assistance.