Five years ago, King County and the City of Seattle declared a state of emergency on homelessness. Nevertheless, despite modest declines in subpopulations like families and youth, homelessness rates continued to rise almost every year. As thousands of new workers arrived daily, the region’s affordable housing stock shrank. Rents skyrocketed, historic Black and Brown neighborhoods… Read More of “YouthCare Endorses JumpStart Seattle Payroll Tax”
The 2020 legislative session wrapped up last week and there is a lot to celebrate! For the first time in YouthCare’s history, all of our state legislative priorities passed and all our budget priorities were (at least partially) funded! Keep reading to see what passed and why it matters for young people experiencing homelessness. Policy… Read More of “2020 Session Recap”
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”
Ending youth homelessness in our community is possible. But our public policies must incorporate the viewpoints and stories of young people experiencing homelessness to be effective. On Youth Advocacy Day (YAD) last Friday, young people gathered in Olympia. They voiced their perspectives during meetings with elected officials, a rally, and march to end youth homelessness.… Read More of “Uplifting Voices: YouthCare Staff & Youth Participate in Youth Advocacy Day 2020”
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 Sunday was sine die: the last day of the 2019 state legislative session. It was a big year for housing and homelessness priorities—and there’s lots of reason for advocates to celebrate. Here’s a recap of how YouthCare’s legislative priories fared and why they’ll make a difference in young people’s lives. HB1657: PASSED! Why was… Read More of “2019 Session Recap”
Washington State has a lot to be proud of: our culture of innovation, our commitment to environmental sustainability, our breathtaking views. But we also have lots of room for improvement. We have the most upside-down tax code in the country, and we’re ranked 34th in the nation for access to mental health care. Our overreliance on… Read More of “YouthCare Supports New Progressive Revenue”
What is YouthCare’s Casa de Los Amigos Program? YouthCare’s Casa de los Amigos Program (Casa) is a 20-bed emergency shelter program funded by the Office of Refugee Resettlement, which is domiciled at the Federal Department of Health and Human Services. The program was founded almost a decade ago to serve unaccompanied minors ages 12-17. The… Read More of “FAQ on YouthCare’s Casa de los Amigos Program”
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 commends the Seattle City Council and Mayor for their commitment to ending homelessness and their investment in affordable housing. Seattle is in the midst of an economic boom, as new workers flock to our city and new buildings dot our skyline. At the same time, we are experiencing rising rates of inequality and soaring… Read More of “YouthCare Endorses the Seattle Employee Hours Tax”
