Without a safe home and the guidance of caring and responsible adults, many young people lose their way. YMCA Open Door provides the stability they need to continue their education and transition into responsible adulthood.

Recently, one of our former residents, Zubari visited and surprised YMCA staff after many years by sharing the remarkable progress he has made since leaving supported lodgings. Today, Zubari works as an engineer with Network Rail, a testament to his resilience and determination.

Zubari first came to live at YMCA Supported Lodgings when he was just 16 years old. Having lost his father at the age of two, his mother was left to raise five children on her own. Due to challenging circumstances at home, Zubari was referred to the YMCA by the local council and placed with a host family for about four years.

Life wasn’t always easy and Zubari faced ups and downs. With the encouragement and support of YMCA staff and his host family, he persevered. He went to further his education at Southport University and later achieved the prestigious title of National Apprentice of the Year with Network Rail in 2024. Today, Zubari is studying to become a senior engineer within the same company.

Reflecting on his journey, Zubari said, “YMCA has been my foundation and my rock. The host families I stayed with awakened my dreams. Now, I pursue those dreams and hope to make a difference in the lives of other young people.” He emphasised the vital role host families play in helping young people who are homeless or in crisis, adding, “Living with purpose is important.”

Host families—those who open their doors to vulnerable young people caught between childhood and adulthood—make an incredible and lasting contribution. Between 2024 and 2025, YMCA supported 5,880 individuals across the Black Country to belong, contribute, and thrive.

YMCA Black Country Group is recruiting Supported Lodgings and Daystop Hosts across the Black Country who can offer a temporary home to a young person. A young person could be with you for as long as one night or up to two years, depending on their needs and your availability.  There is nothing more rewarding than putting a smile on the face of a young person who was once hopeless due to homelessness, but now hopeful and blossoming because an enabling environment was provided to help restore the lost hope.

If you think you have what it takes to host a homeless teenager in your home, please contact YMCA Open Door on the following: 0121 5241950/ 0121 524 957, email: opendoor@ymcabc.org.uk