Volunteers play an essential role in YouthCare’s work to support youth experiencing homelessness. In honor of International Volunteer Day, we sat down for a Q&A with one of our amazing volunteers, Viktória! Viktória is part of a fierce volunteer team at YouthCare’s main office; every Thursday she can be found sorting and organizing the incredible donations… Read More of “YouthCare Volunteer Spotlight: Viktória”
The holidays are a special time: there’s excitement in the air as we exchange gifts, gather around the table, and count our blessings. Every young person deserves to experience those special moments. At YouthCare, staff are working hard throughout the season so youth can feel more at home during this time of year. Can you… Read More of “6 Simple Ways to Brighten the Holidays for Youth Experiencing Homelessness!”
YouthCare has signed on in support of a campaign to shut down the Northwest Detention Center (NWDC) in Tacoma, Washington. We urge you to support this campaign and sign the petition here. What is the NWDC? The Northwest Detention Center is the country’s fourth-largest detention center for people awaiting immigration and/or asylum proceedings. NWDC is… Read More of “YouthCare Endorses Shut Down NWDC Campaign”
What is Referendum 88? Referendum 88 will decide the fate of Initiative 1000 (see below), a ballot initiative approved by the legislature last year. An “approve” vote on Referendum 88 will enable I-1000 to move forward; a “reject” vote will block it from becoming law. What is Initiative 1000? Initiative 1000 would reverse a statewide… Read More of “Approve Referendum 88”
What would I-976 do? I-976 would significantly restrict our state’s capacity to generate revenue for transportation. Among other reforms, the initiative would limit car tab fees to $30 per year and repeal cities’ authority to levy additional fees through Transportation Benefit Districts (TBDs)—the primary means by which 62 cities across the state fund local transportation… Read More of “YouthCare Opposes Initiative 976”
This month, YouthCare welcomed volunteers from organizations around the community for their dedicated ‘Days of Caring’. Volunteers from Expedia showed up in full force to spruce up two of YouthCare’s community living programs. These volunteers deep cleaned the kitchens, which are focal points of community building for youth who call these spaces home. After completing… Read More of “YouthCare Welcomes Volunteers for Annual “Days of Caring””
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”
It’s Thankful Thursday and we’re so grateful for our wonderful partnership with Bishops Barbershop on Capitol Hill! Every other month, our young people in program get so excited to make the trip up the hill to a cool spot, sit in a shiny black chair, and for a few moments, slip away into the leisure… Read More of “Haircuts with Heart: YouthCare Partners with Bishops on Capitol Hill”
When President Trump took office in 2016, YouthCare braced for a challenging four years. But racist and hateful policies rocked YouthCare immediately: it was clear from the start that immigrants and those who are new to this country—particularly people of color—were Trump’s key scapegoats and the primary targets of cruel policy. Since that time, the… Read More of “YouthCare Condemns Racist and Inhumane Federal Policies”
For a few hours every third Thursday of the month, a small space at the back of YouthCare’s Orion Center transforms. A few rows of chairs are casually spread out. The lights drop low, leaving only the golden glow of string lights to illuminate the space. A mic stands tall. It’s a treasured moment where… Read More of “Open Mic Night: A Supportive Space for Youth to Create and Inspire”
