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Boston youth homelessness organization gets record $2.5 million grant

Elisabeth Jackson, executive director of Bridge Over Troubled Waters, asks a homeless person sleeping in a doorway on Bromfield St. if he needs any assistance during Boston's annual homeless census in 2013. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)
Elisabeth Jackson, executive director of Bridge Over Troubled Waters, asks a homeless person sleeping in a doorway on Bromfield St. if he needs any assistance during Boston's annual homeless census in 2013. (Jesse Costa/WBUR)

A Boston nonprofit that provides services for homeless, runaway and at-risk youth has received a $2.5 million grant, the largest in the organization's more than 50-year history.

The five-year grant to Bridge Over Troubled Waters from the Liberty Mutual Foundation announced this week will help the nonprofit address some pre-existing infrastructure needs; expand housing that allows young people an opportunity to live independently as they build the financial resources to find an apartment; and boost outreach.

"We are so grateful to Liberty Mutual for its investment in our comprehensive approach to helping vulnerable young people experiencing homelessness," CEO Elisabeth Jackson said in a statement.

Bridge Over Troubles Waters said homelessness among people between the ages of 14 and 24 is growing, and many of them are physically and sexually abused. As many as 80% have experienced trauma or post-traumatic stress disorder. Black and LGBTQ+ youth are more likely to experience homelessness.

Bridge Over Troubled Waters was founded in 1970 and serves more than 2,000 young people per year.

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