About the Transitional Living Center
Transitional Living Center (TLC) provides a secure, stable, supportive living environment for homeless young women between the ages of 16 and 21, who are in their third trimester of pregnancy or are already parenting no more than one child.
Eligible individuals are those young women, who are self-motivated and goal-oriented, that are seeking to obtain safe, affordable permanent housing for their families and are dedicated to becoming self-sufficient members of the community. These young women must also be willing to enroll in an educational program, if they do not have a high school diploma or GED. All TLC residents must be engaged in an educational program or be employed for a minimum of 20 hours each week.
TLC provides residents with supportive counseling and weekly individual case advocacy; parenting and educational group meetings; life skills and healthy relationship instruction; information and referrals to access community resources, as well as assistance in obtaining permanent housing.
For additional information or to make a referral, please contact our TLC office at 455-1774 x 274.
Why Is the Transitional Living Center Important to Erie?
Teenage mothers who sought shelter became a constant challenge. Often these mother’s had dropped out of school; lacking a basic education, work history, life experience and life skills. They also had the responsibility of an infant or young child. The structure they needed did not fit well in Shelter or Bridge House.
In 1990 Tom Ridge, at that time a U.S. Congressman, cut the ribbon and supported the Transitional Living Center (TLC) project as an antidote to the generational cycle of poverty which often begins with teen pregnancy.
This semi-communal project emphasizes literacy and basic life skills. In a year-long program, completing an education is a priority. Some residents, who were high school drop outs, started here on a path to complete professional degrees.
TLC provides a secure, stable, supportive living environment for homeless young women between the ages of 16 and 21, who are in their third trimester of pregnancy or are already parenting no more than one child.
Eligible individuals are those young women, who are self-motivated and goal-oriented, that are seeking to obtain safe, affordable permanent housing for their families and are dedicated to becoming self-sufficient members of the community. These young women must also be willing to enroll in an educational program, if they do not have a high school diploma or GED. All TLC residents must be engaged in an educational program or be employed for a minimum of 20 hours each week.
TLC provides residents with supportive counseling and weekly individual case advocacy; parenting and educational group meetings; life skills and healthy relationship instruction; information and referrals to access community resources, as well as assistance in obtaining permanent housing.
Without TLC, pregnant teenagers and young mothers would be homeless in Erie County.
