Building Belonging: How Sana Place Indy Supports Indy's Young People to Thrive

When Home Isn't Where the Heart Is

For many of us, the word "home" conjures feelings of safety, comfort, and belonging. But for hundreds of young people in Indianapolis, home isn't a place of refuge—it's a concept that feels out of reach. Youth homelessness doesn't always look like what we might expect. It can be the teenager couch-surfing between friends' apartments, the young adult sleeping in their car between shifts, or the college-age kid staying at a shelter because family conflict made home unsafe.

At Sana Place Indy, we see these young people not as statistics, but as individuals with dreams, talents, and unlimited potential waiting to be unlocked. What they're missing isn't just a roof—it's a sense of belonging that forms the foundation for everything else.

The Power of Belonging

Have you ever walked into a room and immediately felt like you didn't belong? That uncomfortable sensation, the one that makes you shrink into yourself, that tells you to be smaller, quieter, less visible, is what many homeless youth feel constantly. Except they're not experiencing it in a single awkward social situation; they're feeling it everywhere they go.

This persistent sense of disconnection doesn't just hurt emotionally. Research shows that belonging is a fundamental human need that affects mental health, physical wellbeing, and the ability to envision and build a future. When young people don't feel like they belong anywhere, their development suffers in unimaginable ways.

"Belonging is the cornerstone of resilience," explains one of our support advocates. "When kids know they matter to someone—that they're seen, heard, and valued—they can weather almost any storm."

Our Compassionate Approach

Sana Place Indy was founded on a simple but powerful belief: every young person deserves to be seen, heard, and supported unconditionally. Our approach centers on creating spaces where youth experiencing homelessness can find not just physical safety, but emotional safety too.

What makes our approach different is that we don't just focus on immediate needs. While we absolutely provide essentials like food, shelter, and healthcare connections, we're equally committed to nurturing the whole person. That means addressing the trauma that often accompanies homelessness, building life skills, and fostering connections that extend beyond our walls.

Most importantly, we recognize that belonging can't be manufactured or forced. It grows organically in environments where young people are treated with dignity and given agency over their own lives. At Sana Place, youth aren't passive recipients of services—they're active participants in a community that values their voice and respects their choices.

How We Create Belonging

So what does building belonging actually look like in practice? At Sana Place Indy, it takes many forms:

Safe Spaces

Our physical spaces are designed to feel welcoming, not institutional. Young people can drop in without appointment or obligation, find a quiet corner to read or do homework, join group activities, or simply be in a place where no one is questioning their right to exist.

Consistent Relationships

Belonging happens through connection to people, not programs. Our staff members build authentic relationships characterized by consistency, transparency, and respect. Young people know they can count on seeing familiar faces who remember their names, their stories, and their preferences.

Youth Voice and Choice

We don't dictate what support should look like. Instead, we ask questions like, "What would help you feel more stable right now?" and "What are your goals, and how can we support them?" This approach honors the expertise young people have about their own lives and reinforces that they belong to themselves first.

Skill-Building and Empowerment

From cooking classes to financial literacy workshops, job readiness training to creative expression, we offer opportunities for young people to develop skills that build confidence and independence. These activities aren't just practical—they're also natural contexts for forming friendships and discovering strengths.

Be Part of the Solution

Creating belonging for Indianapolis youth isn't something Sana Place can do alone. It takes a community-wide commitment to seeing young people not as problems to be solved, but as individuals with inherent worth and limitless potential.

Here's how you can be part of this vital work:

Volunteer Your Time

From serving meals to tutoring, organizing donation drives to helping with administrative tasks, there are countless ways to share your time and talents. Visit our Get Involved page to explore current opportunities.

Donate Resources

Financial contributions allow us to respond flexibly to emerging needs, but we also welcome donations of specific items like new undergarments, hygiene products, gift cards, and backpacks. Check our Gift of Hope page for current high-priority needs.

Become an Advocate

Help us change the conversation around youth homelessness by educating yourself and others. Follow us on social media, sign up for our Sana Signal newsletter, and speak up about the importance of supporting vulnerable youth in community forums and policy discussions.

Building a Community Where All Youth Belong

At Sana Place Indy, we envision an Indianapolis where no young person has to wonder if they belong, where every youth has access to safe shelter, supportive relationships, and opportunities to develop their unique gifts. We believe this vision is possible when we all recognize that youth homelessness isn't inevitable, and that each of us has a role to play in creating communities where young people can put down roots and flourish.

The journey from streets to stability isn't linear, and it doesn't happen overnight. But when we commit to walking alongside young people, not as saviors, but as allies, remarkable transformations become possible. Every time a young person finds belonging at Sana Place, they're not just changing their own life; they're changing our city for the better.

To learn more about our approach and impact, visit our About page or explore our comprehensive Services. If you're a young person in need of support, or if you know someone who is, please reach out through our Help page. No one should have to face homelessness alone.

Together, we can build a community where every young person knows they belong and has what they need to thrive.