By Patrick Baron

BLOOMINGTON – A local organization has received a $200,000 federal grant to help homeless youths in McLean County.

Project Oz provides housing, job, and educational opportunities for youths ages 18-24 who are being sexually exploited by an older person in exchange for a living space. The federal grant allows Project Oz to receive $200,000 every year for the next five years.

Program Director Lisa Thompson said once the youths have the option of being placed in a Project Oz program, they begin to turn their lives around for the better.

“What we find is that when we afford them with another option, they oftentimes leave that siutation and come accept housing services, employment connections, career links, and given opportunities a lot of these young people will make different choices,” Thompson explained.

Project Oz’s new program, made possible due to the grant, will provide traditional living apartments for the youths who have experienced or are at risk of sexual exploitation or trafficking. Thompson explained the facility already has 18 beds to shelter those youths, but the grant will help expand the number of beds available.

“As this grant begins the implementation phase, we will add nine additional beds with the focus of youth who are at risk of exploitation,” said Thompson.

Thompson also said there are between 600 and 700 applications for the grant each year, with 110 organizations receiving it. Project Oz is one of two Illinois organizations to receive the grant.

Patrick Baron can be reached at [email protected].