Our Founder - News
Jan. 8, 2025
Maureen Maher-Gray, executive director and founder of NEPA Youth Shelter, announces her plan to retire as of June 30, 2025. This announcement, coming on Maureen’s January 8th birthday, marks the culmination of her work in Scranton rather than an end. She moves on from NEPA Youth Shelter having achieved her major goals for our organization:
Affordable housing: The shelter reached a milestone in December 2023 by purchasing a three-unit apartment building in Scranton for our Housing Program participants, creating affordable housing for young adults experiencing homelessness.
Growth: In 2024, the shelter was able to grow its staff, board of directors and services. Employees now include a case manager and a mental health therapist.
Sustainability: Despite having to move our After School Drop In Teen Center into a temporary location for several months in 2024, we were offered a prime, permanent location just a short walk from Scranton High School on Providence Road, which we are in the process of renovating to best serve the teens.
All of this progress has been made possible by charitable donations and grants. We received over $120,000 through our 2024 Homeless Youth Awareness Month annual appeal in November to support the new Teen Center.
"Working with Maureen over the past four years has been truly inspiring,” says Janell Johnson, assistant executive director of NEPA Youth Shelter. “As a mentor, she has guided me with her wisdom and strong passion to make a meaningful difference in the community. Maureen’s remarkable creativity and strategic vision for the shelter have left a lasting impact on staff, volunteers and our previous teens who came to the Teen Center when they were in high school. Her accomplishments over the past seven years reflect her exceptional dedication to creating a safe and welcoming space for youth in the area. I wish her all the best for a well-deserved and fulfilling retirement."
Origins
In 2014-2015, while working for Equality Pennsylvania, Maureen traveled through eastern Pennsylvania raising awareness about the lack of protections for LGBTQIA+ individuals in the state constitution. She often encountered teens who feared coming out because they might be kicked out of their homes and would have nowhere to go.
Maureen did the research and discovered the lack of crisis services or shelters specifically for young adults in our region, especially in Scranton. Determined to understand and fill the service gap, she met with several local human services and nonprofit organizations, mental health professionals and community leaders. By 2017, she founded the NEPA Youth Shelter.
Challenges and achievements
At first, Maureen’s biggest personal challenge was fundraising. She had no prior experience or training in fundraising, and felt uncomfortable asking for money. However, over time, she became more at ease as people and charitable organizations responded positively to the cause. Financial growth was slow initially but soon grew. In the first year, the shelter had $2,000 in the bank, growing to nearly $300,000 in subsequent years.
Opening the Teen Center was a monumental achievement, especially with no certainty that local high school students would come. The center initially had no visitors for the first four days, but eventually, teens started attending, and the center grew rapidly in its first year with 120 registered teens. By the third year, the number had increased to 190. Currently, the Teen Center typically serves 30-40 teens daily. Over time, the shelter has expanded our reach, adding more services and support for local youth, including a Housing Program for young adults ages 18-21 who are experiencing homelessness.
Noting valuable accomplishments, Maureen points out that the Teen Center has become a safe space for teens to explore their interests in art, music, games and friendships. We have also provided crucial mental health and reproductive health care services.
“It’s humbling to think of the positive impact the shelter has had on countless young lives,” Maureen shares. “The Teen Center provides a safe and nurturing environment where teens can find support, explore their identities and develop their talents.”
John W. Rosengrant, current at-large member and former president of the NEPA Youth Shelter board of directors, says, “It has become Maureen's life mission to help those youth who may be experiencing homelessness, are at risk of homelessness or have home situations in which they are uncomfortable. Maureen has created the NEPA Youth Shelter to become the answer to these youth. I am so proud to have been part of her life mission and see her transform herself into a pillar of this community.”
Additionally, most people are unaware that Maureen was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer in April 2018. With her oncologist’s support and skill, she pursued an aggressive treatment that included a double mastectomy in December 2018. She continued to wage war on cancer. She learned in June 2024 that there are no more active lesions. With her health condition under control – and learning to appreciate each day of living – this fight has given her additional reason to retire and enjoy the many things on her bucket list while she remains in good health.
Gratitude
“I want to thank all the people who believed in me and believed in the concept of the NEPA Youth Shelter and have helped us with financial donations, tangible goods donations, personal care product donations, sharing our social media posts, responding when we need something specific. We can't do it without you,” shares Maureen. “And I hope that you'll continue to support the shelter at the same level that you have shown me. The community's involvement is critical for success.”
Maureen notes that there are people in surrounding areas – Tunkhannock, Honesdale, Pittston, for example – trying to start similar teen centers.
“If you live in those areas, please support them,” Maureen says. “It’s tough to get started, but $5 dollars here, $10 there, $25 there, makes a huge difference when you're getting started. And the kids need it. “
What’s next
Maureen plans to retire in sunny Southern California, where her son lives. She hopes the shelter will continue to grow, both in terms of space and services. She emphasized that the Teen Center should always remain free for teens, considering the financial difficulties many of our participants face.
“It is essential for the staff to remember they are invested adults who are there to support, not to parent or teach,” says Maureen. “They are there to inspire teens to believe in their potential.”
Andrew Cutillo, Esq., current president of NEPA Youth Shelter’s board of directors, shares, “Maureen has poured her entire soul into making disadvantaged teens feel seen—truly seen. We could not be prouder to celebrate her outstanding career, which will forever be this organization’s North Star.”
A celebration honoring Maureen and her contributions to our community will be planned for the Spring. NEPA Youth Shelter’s board of directors will begin the search for a new executive director soon. For updates, visit nepayouthshelter.org.