“What I have in the back of my head is we can’t do everything. So for the twenty-five people we do have and are helping, that’s a win,” said YouthCare’s Senior Program Manager of Engagement Services Charese Jones in a story for the Seattle Times. Her coworker, Semone Andu, said the crisis has laid bare… Read More of “Coronavirus brings ‘a whole other layer of trauma’ for workers who serve homeless people”
She was violated and raped in plain sight at all hours of the day and night. She was sold and threatened with violence and death. She scratched and kicked the walls of her motel room. She cried for help from anyone who could hear. Instead of helping, motel staff told her to “keep it down.”… Read More of “Child sex trafficking survivors deserve to be protected, not criminalized”
Under the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), any person under the age of 18 who performs a commercial sex act is considered a victim of human trafficking, regardless of force, fraud, or coercion. Washington State is currently in violation of federal law: the state continues to arrest and charge minors for prostitution, even though… Read More of “Washington State Must Help, Not Arrest Sex Trafficked, Homeless Minors”
Last week, we were thrilled to welcome Seattle Times food critic, Bethany Jean Clement, to YouthCare’s Orion Center. Bethany spoke to our long-time volunteer group, NE Seattle Moms, as they prepared their monthly meal: “barbecue-sauced chicken breast, ground beef, grilled peppers, a mix of black and refried beans, rice and tortillas for wrapping it up in,… Read More of “Seattle Times Food Critic Inspired by Orion’s Cooking”
YouthCare was honored to host A Way Home Washington’s launch of the Anchor Community Initiative yesterday at YouthCare’s Orion Center. We heard powerful personal stories from two young people, Azia and Roel, as well as inspiring remarks from Jim Theofelis, First Lady Trudi Inslee, State Senator Maureen Walsh, and many others. More than one hundred… Read More of “Pearl Jam Pledges $1.3 million to Ending Youth Homelessness”
Erin Chapman-Smith, YouthCare’s Director of Over-18 Housing Services, recently spoke to a reporter from the Washington State Wire about the unique challenges faced by homeless LGBTQ+ youth and YouthCare’s work to support them. “Some of the unique challenges that that population faces are that often folks are kicked out of their homes for their identity.… Read More of “Q&A About LGBTQ+ Homeless Youth”
YouthCare’s Casa de los Amigos Program (Casa) is a twenty-bed shelter for unaccompanied, undocumented youth ages 12-17. Casa is supported by the Division of Unaccompanied Minors at the Federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR). The majority of Casa’s youth are fleeing war, gang violence, human trafficking, and extreme poverty. They arrive at Casa de los Amigos alone,… Read More of “YouthCare’s Casa de los Amigos Program Impacted by Family Separation Policy”
“Just because youth are sleeping outside doesn’t mean they prefer to live there,” writes YouthCare’s CEO, Melinda Giovengo, in this Op-Ed to the Seattle Times. “That’s a false dichotomy. It means they were put in the impossible situation of choosing themselves over their family. Or abandoning their partner, because there’s no couples’ shelter. Or their… Read More of “No, Youth Don’t Choose to Live Outside”
YouthCare is excited to announce a new partnership with the University of Washington and the statewide Office of Homeless Youth called the Doorway Project. This partnership aims to streamline services for young people in the University District and well as create a neighborhood hub and navigation center specifically for homeless young people. “We know what works to stabilize… Read More of “YouthCare Partners with UW on the Doorway Project”
YouthCare was honored to be present as the Mayor and City of Seattle announced that Oak View Group’s (OVG) proposal had been selected to redevelop Seattle’s beloved Key Arena. As OVG considered how to include community investments in their plan, YouthCare was invited in as an essential partner. While the fine details are part of… Read More of “YouthCare Selected as Partner in Oak View Group’s Proposal to Renovate Key Arena”
