Lost-n-Found Youth

Lost-n-Found Youth, Inc.
Founded2011 (2011)
Founders
  • Rick Westbrook
  • Art Izzard
  • Paul Swicord
TypeNonprofit
Tax ID no. 45-4153322 (EIN)
Location
Executive director
Melanea Alvarez
Websitelostnfoundyouth.org Edit this at Wikidata
[1]

Lost-n-Found Youth is an Atlanta, Georgia-based organization that assists homeless LGBTQ youth.[2][3] The organization, at the time of its 2011 founding, was the "only organization actively taking Atlanta's LGBT homeless youth directly off the streets".[4] They work with young adults ages 18 to 25, helping them find housing, employment, and other things that are needed to maintain independence.[5][6]

Operations

As of June 2026, the chief executive director is Melanea Alvarez.[7]

History

Lost-n-Found Youth started in 2011 as a project organized by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to address the need for a homeless shelter to specifically meet the needs of LGBTQ youth in the Atlanta area. The organization, originally known as the Saint Lost and Found project, was founded by Rick Westbrook, Art Izzard, and Paul Swicord.[8] Since its inception, the organization has helped more than 300 homeless young adults.[9][10]

In 2014, The Human Rights Campaign awarded Lost-n-Found Youth with the Dan Bradley Humanitarian Award.[9]

The organization is converting an Atlanta home that is more than a century old, into a shelter. Saint Mark's United Methodist Church has rented the house to Lost-n-Found Youth for one per year, on a 20-year lease.[11][12][13]

In 2024, Furry Weekend Atlanta raised more than $100,000 to support Lost-n-Found Youth.[6][14]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Cite error: The named reference Roberts2026 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ↑ Saunders, Patrick (August 30, 2014). "LGBT homeless youth group Lost-N-Found featured in Rolling Stone magazine". The GA Voice. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  3. ↑ Kosur, James (September 1, 2014). "Gay Teen's Family Disowns Him; Daniel Pierce Receives $93,000 In Donations". Business2Community. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  4. ↑ "30 Days Of Holiday LGBT Giving: Lost-n-Found Youth, Inc". Huffington Post. December 21, 2012. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Lost-n-Found Youth offers shelter and safety for Atlanta's homeless LGBTQ young adults". CBS News Atlanta. 2025-10-30. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  6. 1 2 Dennis, Ryan J. (2024-05-19). "Furry Weekend Atlanta Supports Lost-n-Found Youth: A Celebration of Inclusivity and Compassion". Peach Pop Five! Entertainment News. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  7. ↑ Roberts, Ron (2026-06-01). "TAKING PRIDE - The 'Lost-n-Found' story: combatting LGBTQIA+ youth homelessness in Atlanta". Hear Georgia NOW. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
  8. ↑ "History". Lost-n-Found Youth. Archived from the original on August 22, 2014. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  9. 1 2 "Sam Champion to be Honored by Human Rights Campaign". Human Rights Campaign. April 22, 2014. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  10. ↑ Morris, Alex (September 3, 2014). "The Forsaken: A Rising Number of Homeless Gay Teens Are Being Cast Out by Religious Families". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  11. ↑ Frampton, Will (September 3, 2014). "Atlanta non-profit prepares midtown building to serve as gay teen homeless center". cbs46.com. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Non-profit builds center for homeless gay teens". wltz.com. September 4, 2014. Retrieved September 4, 2014.
  13. ↑ Sieczkowski, Cavan (September 5, 2014). "Gay Teen Kicked Out Of Home Diverts Outpouring Of Donations To Homeless Shelter". Huffington Post. Retrieved September 5, 2014.
  14. ↑ McNally, Tantroo "Sonious" (2024-05-17). "Furry Weekend Atlanta has record-shattering year-to-year growth for 2024". Flayrah. Retrieved 2026-06-20.
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