Y2Y Harvard Square

What Y2Y Harvard Square does

Y2Y Network, Inc. is a Massachusetts-domiciled 501(c)(3) non-profit that operates youth-led emergency shelters and supportive service programs for young adults ages 18-24 experiencing homelessness. Founded in December 2015 by Sam Greenberg and Sarah Rosenkrantz in partnership with the Phillips Brooks House Association, the organization pioneered a youth-to-youth service model in which college student volunteers (primarily from Harvard and Yale) provide peer support alongside a small professional staff. The network operates two core shelter programs: Y2Y Harvard Square, a 22-bed seasonal shelter in Cambridge, MA (operating mid-October through mid-April and mid-June through mid-August, with a 30-day randomized electronic lottery for bed access); and Y2Y New Haven, a 20-bed facility at 924 Grand Avenue that Y2Y Network took direct operational control of in late 2025 after partner Youth Continuum ceased operations.

The organization's product surface has expanded beyond traditional shelter to include the BAY-CASH (Boston Area Youth – Cash Assistance for Stable Housing) guaranteed income pilot launched in 2025, which provides $1,200 per month in unconditional cash payments for two years to homeless young adults in Greater Boston, evaluated via Randomized Control Trial by Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago. Supporting services across sites include case management, on-site medical and mental health care (via Clifford Beers Clinic in New Haven), legal aid, job search support, and skills workshops. The model is explicitly trauma-informed, gender-inclusive, and LGBTQ+ affirming, with substantial emphasis on Positive Youth Development for both guests and volunteers.

Revenue is generated entirely through philanthropic channels: individual donations (processed via Classy.org), private foundation grants (Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation, Liberty Mutual Foundation, Wellington Management, Yawkey Foundation, Cambridge Community Foundation, Aronson Family Foundation), municipal funding (City of Cambridge), and state agency support (Massachusetts EOHHS, YHDP). The BAY-CASH program has added a coalition of national and regional partners (UpTogether, United Way of Massachusetts Bay, Breaktime Boston, The Home for Little Wanderers, Hopewell, JRI). The go-to-market motion is community-led: awareness is driven by earned media coverage (Boston Globe, NPR, Forbes, HuffPost, Boston.com), university partnerships, and word-of-mouth through a referral network of established homelessness service providers. Services are provided free of charge to beneficiaries; there is no commercial pricing model.

Name

Y2Y Harvard Square

Legal name

Y2Y Network, Inc.

Website

https://y2ynetwork.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Y2Y Network is a 501(c)(3) non-profit operating youth-led emergency shelters and supportive services for young adults ages 18-24 experiencing homelessness in Cambridge, MA and New Haven, CT, and the BAY-CASH guaranteed income pilot in Greater Boston.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Homeless Shelter Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAO)

Keywords

• Youth homeless shelter
• Emergency shelter services
• Youth case management
• Trauma-informed care
• Supported housing programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Direct donations from individuals through the organization's website and Classy.org platform. Donors can give one-time or monthly contributions.
2. Foundation Grants: Funding from private foundations including The Richard and Susan Smith Family Foundation, Liberty Mutual Foundation, Wellington Management, Yawkey Foundation, and Cambridge Community Foundation.
3. Government Funding: Support from government entities including The City of Cambridge and state agencies. YHDP (Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program) funding mentioned for expanding shelter beds.
4. BAY-CASH Program Funding: Guaranteed income pilot program funding with cash payments to homeless youth. Y2Y serves as fiscal sponsor for this initiative.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Y2Y Harvard Square operates the nation's first youth-led youth homeless shelter, providing 22 beds and comprehensive support services for young adults ages 18-24 experiencing homelessness in Greater Boston. Services are delivered through a youth-to-youth peer model in which student volunteers from Harvard, Yale, and other universities staff the shelter and work alongside guests on case management, resource navigation, medical and mental health referrals, legal aid, and job search assistance. A second site in New Haven and the BAY-CASH guaranteed income pilot extend the model to additional geographies and program areas.

Product overview

Y2Y Harvard Square operates as a network of youth-led homeless shelters and supportive service programs. The core offerings include the Y2Y Harvard Square Shelter (the nation's first youth-led youth homeless shelter with 22 beds), Y2Y New Haven (youth-specific supportive services), and BAY-CASH (a guaranteed income pilot program). All programs employ a youth-to-youth model providing safe and affirming environments for young adults ages 18-24 experiencing homelessness.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BAY-CASH: Boston Area Youth–Cash Assistance for Stable Housing: A guaranteed income pilot providing cash payments to young people experiencing homelessness in Greater Boston, developed in partnership with leading national experts, state advocates, local youth homelessness programs, and young adults with lived experience.

Products and services

• Y2Y Harvard Square Shelter The nation's first youth-led youth homeless shelter, providing 22 beds for young adults ages 18-24 experiencing homelessness in Cambridge, MA. Access is via a randomized electronic lottery run three days per week. Services include overnight shelter, meals, showers, laundry, case management, resource navigation, medical and mental health referrals, legal services, and job search assistance, delivered through a youth-to-youth peer volunteer model.
• Y2Y New Haven Youth-specific supportive services program for young adults experiencing homelessness in the Greater New Haven, Connecticut area. Provides case management, referrals to medical and mental health care, leadership and advocacy opportunities, and access to behavioral health resources through a fully integrated clinic with partner Clifford Beers Clinic. Originally operated jointly with Youth Continuum; Y2Y Network assumed direct operations after Youth Continuum ceased operations in late 2025.
• BAY-CASH (Boston Area Youth - Cash Assistance for Stable Housing) A guaranteed income pilot program providing two years of $1,200/month cash payments with no strings attached to young people experiencing homelessness in Greater Boston, combined with supportive services including financial coaching, case management, and peer navigation. Developed in partnership with Chapin Hall (evaluation), Massachusetts EOHHS, UpTogether, United Way of Massachusetts Bay, Breaktime Boston, The Home for Little Wanderers, Hopewell, and JRI.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than doubled the number of easily accessible beds for young adults ages 18-24 in Greater Boston area
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Chapin Hall at the University of ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Evaluation partner for BAY-CASH guaranteed income pilot program. Conducts rigorous Randomized Control Trial design to evaluate effectiveness of cash payments and supportive services.
• Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025State agency partner for BAY-CASH pilot program providing cash assistance to homeless youth in Greater Boston.
• UpTogethermajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Core partner in BAY-CASH guaranteed income pilot, bringing expertise in direct cash transfer programs.
• Breaktime BostonminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Boston-based organization as core partner in BAY-CASH program addressing youth homelessness.
• United Way of Massachusetts BaymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Core partner in BAY-CASH pilot, supporting cash assistance and stable housing initiative.
• The Home for Little WanderersminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Youth services organization as core partner in BAY-CASH program.
• HopewellminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Core partner in BAY-CASH guaranteed income pilot program.
• JRIminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Jewish Family Service affiliate as core partner in BAY-CASH initiative.
• Clifford Beers ClinicmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2020Partnering with Y2Y New Haven to provide on-site behavioral health resources through a fully integrated clinic at the new facility.
• Turner Brooks (Yale School of Architecture)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2020Lead architect for Y2Y New Haven facility design, working with youth to incorporate their input into shelter design.
• Duo DickinsoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2020Architect leading design of Y2Y New Haven facility in collaboration with youth input and Youth Continuum.
• Babbidge ConstructionminorOthers · 1 December 2020Construction company contracted to build Y2Y New Haven facility at 924 Grand Ave.
• Youth ContinuumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018New Haven-based youth organization partner for Y2Y New Haven. Operated joint overnight shelter program since 2018. Youth Continuum provides comprehensive services including housing programs and case management. Partnership ended late 2025 when Youth Continuum ceased operations.
• Phillips Brooks House Association (PBHA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2015Deep partnership with PBHA to open Y2Y Harvard Square. Y2Y founders met while volunteering at PBHA's Harvard Square Homeless Shelter. Y2Y continues to partner with PBHA, with shelter operations coordinated through this relationship.
• Bridge Over Troubled WaterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization serving homeless youth in Boston, referenced as a key community partner providing services and referrals.
• Harvard Square Business AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for community fridge initiative at 52 Church St. in Harvard Square, providing support for food access.
• The Sinclair (Harvard Square nightclub)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided electricity and location for community fridge in Harvard Square, supporting food access for Y2Y guests and community.
• Trinity Property ManagementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in community fridge initiative, helping find location and providing support for the project.
• Boston Health Care for the Homeless ProgrammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner providing COVID-19 testing and vaccine distribution for Y2Y guests and staff. Set up testing site at Y2Y during pandemic.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Covenant House: National network of youth homeless shelters serving young adults 18-24 across 30+ cities. Comparable in mission and population served but operates at much larger scale with multiple service lines beyond shelter.
• Pine Street Inn: Major Boston-area homeless services provider operating shelter, housing, and workforce programs, but serving the broader adult population rather than youth-specific. Useful incumbent reference for Y2Y's regional ecosystem.
• Youth Villages: Large national nonprofit providing residential, behavioral health, and community-based programs for at-risk youth and young adults. Comparable in evidence-based, outcomes-driven service approach but operates at significantly greater scale.

Direct peers

• Bridge Over Troubled Waters: Boston-based organization serving homeless and at-risk youth ages 14-24 with shelter, drop-in services, education, and healthcare. Listed Y2Y partner; directly comparable in geography and youth-focused mission.
• The Home for Little Wanderers: New England-based youth services organization providing shelter, residential, mental health, and community-based programs for children and young adults. Direct partner on Y2Y's BAY-CASH pilot and overlapping service population.
• Ali Forney Center: NYC-based organization providing shelter, housing, and wraparound services for LGBTQ+ homeless youth ages 16-24. Highly comparable mission, demographic focus, and shelter-plus-services model.
• My Friend's Place: Los Angeles-based nonprofit providing comprehensive services and shelter for young people experiencing homelessness ages 12-25. Comparable integrated-service model with education, arts, and health programming alongside shelter.
• Larkin Street Youth Services: San Francisco-based nonprofit offering shelter, housing, and support services for youth ages 12-24 experiencing homelessness. Comparable population, trauma-informed model, and integration of education/employment services.

Regional players

• Heading Home: Greater Boston nonprofit providing emergency shelter, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing. Broader population than Y2Y but operates in the same regional funding ecosystem and serves some of the same guests.

Others

• Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program: Direct Y2Y partner providing COVID-19 testing, vaccines, and on-site health services to Y2Y guests. Adjacent rather than competitive — peer in the regional homeless-services ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Y2Ynetwork
• Instagraminstagram.com/p/DX7__XMjBpp
• Xx.com/y2ynetwork

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Y2Y Harvard Square