In her nearly two decades with Valley Youth House, Jackie Gisonti has become a cornerstone in our mission to combat homelessness in the Lehigh Valley. Since starting in 2007, Jackie has held numerous roles, beginning with mentoring and eventually transitioning into her current role as the Associate Director of Housing and Emergency Services. For over 17 years, she’s overseen programs that offer life-changing support to young people and families facing experiencing homelessness.

One of the key programs Jackie supervises is the Rapid Rehousing (RRH) program, which provides both short-term and long-term solutions for young people experiencing homelessness. Her team works tirelessly to stabilize those they assist, often starting with the basics like shelter and food. From there, the program helps individuals find their own apartments, offering rental assistance and continued case management to support their long-term stability.

At the heart of Jackie’s work is the “Housing First” model. This approach emphasizes placing individuals in safe, stable housing as the first step toward addressing other challenges like mental health, trauma, or addiction. “They can’t focus on what’s going to happen two weeks from now when they can’t even focus on what’s going to happen tonight,” Jackie explains. By prioritizing housing, our staff can then help clients build a foundation for long-term success through essential services, like access to counseling, local resources, and life skills training.

Jackie’s deep commitment to Valley Youth House and her belief in the transformative power of housing provide hope and opportunity to those most in need. Her long-term relationships with clients, built through extended case management, make a profound difference in their ability to achieve and maintain stability.