Basementeer Spotlight: Robyne’s Nest

Provided by Robyne's Nest
 

Robyne's Nest is a Huntington Beach based 501(c)(3) non-profit; our mission is to provide our local homeless and at-risk students, with little to no parental support, with the resources and support they need to become high school graduates and work on their individual paths to self-sufficiency.  Our support includes providing educational support, mental health & wellness therapy, life skills classes, safe housing, financial stipends, care coordination, and basic needs items such as clothing, toiletries, school supplies, and much more. This support is meant to break their toxic cycles and change the trajectory of their lives. In addition to our high school students, we provide group wellness programs to our local middle schools, and for our students who have graduated high school we provide assistance with college, trade school and short term housing.
 

WHO WE SERVE

Robyne’s Nest supports at-risk and homeless students referred by the Huntington Beach and Newport Mesa school districts’ administration and staff. Our students range in age from 12-24 because the journey to self-sufficiency doesn’t end at 18 or with high school graduation.
 

HOW WE SERVE

Our year-round services and programs are funded through regular monetary and supplies donations from our community.  Our annual events for donations and financial support include our Back-to-School Supplies drive, Thanksgiving, Winter Break and Spring Break Food drives, Annual Chili Cookoff, Christmas Adopt-A-Student event, 130K in 30 Days and Help Them Home fundraisers, Dollars for Scholars, and Graduation Gift Cards donation drive.  Additionally, throughout the year our community generously holds various Give-Back events in support of our student programs.
 

Mental Health Care

All students in our program are required to attend therapy with our licensed therapists. This therapy is a vital part of these student’s healing and gives them strategies to manage their past and move forward into a brighter future.  Experiences such as pet and equine therapy are components of our mental wellness program. Robyne’s Nest also hosts an annual Youth Wellness Fair to educate youth in our community about the importance and ways to take responsibility for their personal mental and physical wellbeing. 

Safe Housing

Our first priority is to make sure our students are living in a safe and stable environment where they can thrive and focus on their future. To this end, we recently purchased and completely renovated a house that is now home to 6 of our high school students in need each year. We have onsite 24/7 house managers who provide a supervised, structured living environment that includes chores, responsible living, time management with a focus on school as a priority, and fun “family” outings.  Additionally, we have furnished, shared transitional living apartments for many of our students who have graduated high school and are working while attending college or trade school.
 

Life Skills and Care

We offer a full curriculum of Life Skills classes that are offered not only to students in the Robyne’s Nest program but also to other students in need. Our classes cover topics such as personal finance, cooking and nutrition, health and well-being, and work and interviewing skills. 
 

Basic Needs

We provide free items such as food, clothing, hygiene items, household goods, and school supplies. Students may visit our office or their school pantry. All donations are provided by the generosity of community members, organizations, and businesses. We also provide bicycles or bus passes to students in need so they have transportation to school and work. Most of our students must work to survive and these services allow them to work fewer hours so they can focus on school and their future. 
 

Bonding Time

In addition to a wide array of Life Skills classes and activities, we provide students with opportunities to spend time together with fun, interesting, exciting and relaxing activities and outings.  As our students come from very adverse living environments, most of our students have never experienced these types of healthy, camaraderie building activities, which are so necessary to develop confidence and a sense of belonging.  Some examples include an Ocean Institute Overnight Maritime experience, whale watching, wetlands walks, hiking on local nature trails, paddle boarding and kayaking, and outdoor summer concerts.
 

Giving Back to Our Community

Robyne’s Nest believes in the importance of educating the youth and educators in our community about the issues impacting teens, and the long term consequences of these issues.  Our mission includes educating our teens about the importance of taking personal responsibility for their wellbeing, self-sufficiency, and being contributing members of their community.  We host numerous classes at different schools throughout the year on these topics.  We also provide our students with opportunities to volunteer such as Bolsa Chica Conservancy clean-ups, helping set-up for fundraising events, and more.
 

WHY WE SERVE

As a community, our strength lies in our citizens—the people that make up the fiber and quality of our town. Homeless, uneducated teens remain in our community. Without a high school diploma and the educational foundation to become self-sustaining, they are far more likely to become homeless adults who remain in our community. Statistics show that homelessness generates staggering negative impact, increasing crime and dysfunctional behaviors that a community must deal with. Investing in homeless teens is investing in the future of our communities, our state, our nation, and our world! Social change truly does begin at home, and the ripple effect of its success can span the globe… starting with one homeless student at a time!

Robyne’s Nest fills so many voids in our students’ lives and serves as their mentors, coaches, and cheerleaders. We celebrate every success from getting a good report card to celebrating a birthday. We also provide stability and boundaries critical to their path to self-sufficiency.