On Monday, Youth Homes held a kick-off event to launch the public phase of the capital campaign for a new therapeutic crisis shelter. This shelter will provide a safe and supportive environment for youth aged 10 to 17 who might otherwise end up in emergency rooms, jail cells, psychiatric units, or even the floor of a social worker’s office.
The event also announced the name of the shelter, Birnbaum Youth Home. Geoff Birnbaum was a beloved community member who spent 42 years as the Youth Home’s executive director. After his retirement, he remained deeply involved with the organization. Sadly, Geoff died suddenly in 2025.
“Geoff was passionate about building a new therapeutic shelter and served on the capital campaign committee,” said Amy Schaer, Chief Executive Officer of Youth Homes. “We knew there was no better way to honor him than to dedicate the Birnbaum Youth Home in his memory.”
For years, Youth Homes operated Attention Home, which served a similar purpose and was the first group home they opened nearly 50 years ago. Unfortunately, the challenges caused by the pandemic, workforce shortages, the housing crisis, and inflation led to the closure of Attention Home in 2023. Over the past year, Youth Homes has been fundraising to create a new kind of therapeutic shelter. They received a significant state grant, and with our donors’ support, broke ground last July. They have $600,000 left to raise and hope to open the facility this fall.
“The world is changing, and it’s affecting kids. The youth we serve face increasingly challenging experiences and have complex needs,” said Amy Schaer, Chief Executive Officer, Youth Homes. “This will be a new and improved shelter, where they can continue their education, maintain their support systems, access mental and physical health services, and work towards regaining a sense of normalcy and belonging.”
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Youth Homes is a nonprofit organization caring for children who are facing abuse, neglect, emotional trauma, and substance use problems. Through emergency shelters, therapeutic group homes, foster care and adoption programs, and counseling services, they provide a safe refuge for kids while they begin the difficult healing process. Since 1971, they have cared for more than 20,000 children and their families in Western Montana. To learn more, visit youthhomesmt.org.
