Street Soccer USA
This project's parent organization is Help USA
It operates in United States
It uses Football (Soccer)
Shortlisted for the Sport For Social Inclusion Award
More about Street Soccer USA
SSUSA believes ending homelessness is a team sport. Through a systematic approach we:
1. Build community and trust through sports with participants and volunteers, transforming the context within which they live from one of isolation, abuse, and marginalization, to one of community, purpose, and achievement.
2. Require participants to set 3, 6, and 12-month life goals.
3. Empower participants by marrying clinical services to sport programming and providing access to educational/employment opportunities through our Jobs Academy.
Programs train thrice weekly, go out in the community to compete in local leagues with volunteers, and unite annually at our 18-city SSUSA Cup. By undergoing the SSUSA process, players improve social skills, self-esteem, physical/mental health, and eliminate barriers to employment, making them more likely to achieve housing/job-placement than their peers.
Jobs Academies deliver resume writing, financial literacy, and workplace readiness in addition to a pool of resources (mentorship, employment partners, pro bono legal services, counselling/services for trauma, drug abuse, other barriers). Team leaders in 18 cities exchange best practices and co-develop new solutions for programming and sustainability on a conference call every 6 weeks. Select program ambassadors, male and female, represent SSUSA in various amateur tournaments, including the Homeless World Cup, each year.