Statements & Endorsements

YouthCare Responds to the Seattle Times

Yesterday morning the Seattle Times published an article regarding the City of Seattle’s performance standards for our homeless response system and emergency shelter services. The article referenced YouthCare’s CEO, Melinda Giovengo, who participated in an interview in an effort to provide accountability and transparency—as she, and YouthCare—have always done. Unfortunately, the complexity of the issue,… Read More of “YouthCare Responds to the Seattle Times”

YouthCare Statement Regarding Family Separation at the Border

As people who are committed every day to ending youth homelessness, it has been excruciating to watch families at our nation’s borders being ripped apart. The trauma of fleeing unspeakable violence in one’s home country is now being compounded through inhumane and racist policies inflicted by our government. YouthCare categorically condemns the atrocities at the… Read More of “YouthCare Statement Regarding Family Separation at the Border”

YouthCare Responds to 2018 Count Us In Results

Last week, King County released their 2018 Point-in-Time Count, including the number of homeless youth and young adults. Here’s the good news: the rates of youth and young adult homelessness remained relatively steady—1,498 in 2017 to 1,518 in 2018—an increase of just 20 young people. Moreover, the number of homeless minors went down by 22%, due… Read More of “YouthCare Responds to 2018 Count Us In Results”

YouthCare Endorses Seattle Family, Education, Preschool, and Promise Levy

YouthCare’s Board has unanimously voted to endorse the Seattle Families, Education, Preschool and Promise (FEPP) Levy. We know that young people with less than a high school diploma or GED have a 346% higher risk of experiencing homelessness and that young people of color are at disproportionately higher risk of dropping out or being pushed… Read More of “YouthCare Endorses Seattle Family, Education, Preschool, and Promise Levy”

YouthCare Statement on Sweeps

YouthCare believes that all young people deserve a safe and stable place to call home—and that no young person should ever have to sleep outside. We recognize that unsanctioned encampments are not suitable for habitation. Yet we also recognize that the City’s policy of sweeping encampments in the absence of adequate shelter beds or affordable… Read More of “YouthCare Statement on Sweeps”

YouthCare Endorses De-Escalate Washington

YouthCare’s leadership unanimously voted to support the De-Escalate Washington ballot initiative—and we urge you to support Initiative 940 too. I-940 is a grassroots effort led by people of color and families who have been impacted by police violence. The initiative would require law enforcement to receive violence de-escalation and mental health training, and it would change… Read More of “YouthCare Endorses De-Escalate Washington”

4.2 million Homeless Young People is Unacceptable: We Must Do More

Over 40 years ago, Congress passed the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act—the first and only federal law targeted at serving unaccompanied youth. For nearly as long, homeless youth providers and organizations like the National Network for Youth have advocated that Congress fund well-researched and accurate data on the prevalence of youth homelessness. For decades, those… Read More of “4.2 million Homeless Young People is Unacceptable: We Must Do More”

YouthCare Endorses King County Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy

YouthCare supports the renewal of the King County Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy (VSHSL). Our region faces an affordability crisis. Rents in Seattle have risen 57% in the last six years and studies show that every $100 increase in rent is associated with a 15% increase in homelessness in metropolitan areas. King County is… Read More of “YouthCare Endorses King County Veterans, Seniors, and Human Services Levy”

YouthCare Responds to All Home 2017 Data on Homelessness in King County

This morning, All Home King County released the results of their point-in-time count of homeless people in our community. The count was performed on January 27, 2017. For this year’s count, All Home employed different methodology than previous years and worked with a new research partner. We have long known that previous counts of 800-1,000… Read More of “YouthCare Responds to All Home 2017 Data on Homelessness in King County”