After being pummeled by multiple snowstorms, this month officially marks Seattle’s snowiest February on record. Everyone has been affected by this weather—but freezing temperatures and prolonged snow hit especially hard for the young people YouthCare serves. While we all endure the remainder of Seattle’s #Snowmageddon2019, there is something that brings us at YouthCare some warmth:… Read More of “YouthCare Gives Thanks During Seattle’s #Snowmageddon”
Over forty years ago, YouthCare’s founders responded to a calling to serve homeless youth in their neighborhood. Fast forward to today, and YouthCare is building on its mission to end youth homelessness with boldness and intention. We knew it was time for our website to reflect the same. In the past year, we’ve worked hard… Read More of “Introducing YouthCare’s Newly Redesigned Website!”
David, a young man who lived at YouthCare many years ago, still remembers the holidays he spent with us. His story renews a bit of hope in all of us. David is a graduate student at the University of Washington studying to get his master’s degree in social work. But over ten years ago, he… Read More of “David: from University Avenue to the University of Washington”
Yesterday was YouthBuild Graduation Day at YouthCare! YouthBuild is a six-month pre-apprenticeship program for young people interested in pursuing a career in the trades. It was incredibly inspiring to see the accumulation of hard work, commitment, and drive in these eleven talented young people. We are so proud of them as they move on to start… Read More of “YouthCare Celebrates YouthBuild Cohort 19 Graduates!”
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”
No better word captures Triston than “humble.” There’s a softness about him, a genuine sense of gratitude. Start a conversation and within minutes you’ll see the twinkle, the pensive grin of someone who is deeply reflective and wise beyond his years. Like most young people who come to YouthCare, Triston wasn’t dealt an easy hand.… Read More of “Triston: Turning over a new leaf”
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”
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”
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”