Unsung hero: Huntington Beach’s Kathy Tillotson brings homeless young adults off the streets
In a nondescript office building in Huntington Beach, Kathy Tillotson heads a small nonprofit that quietly changes lives for hundreds of vulnerable young adults.
Her organization, Build Futures, is dedicated to quickly finding housing for men and women ages 18 to 24 — a niche group, she says, that is often overlooked. The nonprofit also provides resources and support intended to help them maintain employment, self-sufficiency and long-term independence.
Though there are groups focused on helping families, foster youths, veterans and women escaping abuse, the population of young adults — primarily young men — that Build Futures aids is underserved, Tillotson said.
“They come to us with the clothes on their back,” she said. “They could just cease to exist and no one would care. … We give hope for them.”
Most of the homeless adults are running away from trauma, abuse or neglect, she said. Some are 18-year-olds getting out of incarceration with few resources.
Heading a nonprofit is something Tillotson, who lives in Huntington Beach, never imagined herself doing when she moved to California from the East Coast in 2009 for retirement.
She came from the business world, selling computer software and managing networks.
But after realizing the plight of homeless young adults in Orange County, she founded Build Futures and starting working full time on it without taking compensation.
Much of the organization’s money pays for housing its clients. It has about 80 properties countywide that it uses to provide homes for people.
In 2016, Build Futures housed about 125 people. This year, it housed about 150.
The nonprofit keeps things spartan. Its Beach Boulevard office space is donated, as is the furniture. In 2016, 95% of each dollar donated went directly toward client expenses. Donations can be sent through its website, buildfutures.org.
Tillotson jokes that the fundraising is “basically me begging for things on the street instead of the kids.”
Build Futures finds its clients on referrals from faith groups, nonprofits and word of mouth.
Earlier this month, the group had about 30 young adults on its radar. Their lives keep Tillotson busy seven days a week, she said.
The nonprofit only recently was able to add paid part-time staff members who work on case management.
Kevin O’Grady, former executive director of the LGBT Center OC and a former regional director for the Anti-Defamation League, is one of the people Build Futures brought aboard.
“The program that Kathy started saves lives,” he said. “Every day.”
Editor’s note: This is an installment of Unsung Heroes, an annual feature that highlights otherwise overlooked members of the community.
Twitter: @bradleyzint
ALSO
Unsung hero: Interior designer Beth Phillips furnishes hope to families in crisis
Unsung hero: Costa Mesa’s Hydee Beth makes Westside feel the love
Unsung hero: Emergency-response leader Judy Kane is ready for anything in Bayside Village
Unsung hero: Nurse-midwife Robbie Prepas goes to disaster scenes
Unsung hero: Ken Nottle devotes his life to charity
Unsung hero: Kathryn Rollins helps senior citizens ‘take control of their bodies and lives’
Unsung heroes: Brad and Trish Miller bring food and friendship to Main Beach
All the latest on Orange County from Orange County.
Get our free TimesOC newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Daily Pilot.
