Submitted by Community Youth Services
Community Youth Services received notifications of award over the weekend for two federal grants to serve runaway and homeless youth in our community.
The Street Outreach Program, funded for $561,000 over three years, will provide additional staff to seek out homeless and vulnerable youth in areas where they congregate in Olympia and to increase outreach efforts throughout Thurston County. Street Outreach Advocates provide items that meet youth’s immediate needs, such as bottled water, snacks, first aid supplies, hats, and gloves. The initial contacts made through street outreach also introduce homeless youth to the programs and opportunities available to them through CYS, including Rosie’s Place drop-in center and the Young Adult Shelter open overnight in winter months. With federal funding, CYS outreach staff will be able to triple the number of contacts made annually and increase efforts to reach into rural areas of Thurston County.
The Basic Shelter grant, $360,000 over three years, supports the Safe Shelter program within CYS’ Haven House residential shelter. This co-ed residential shelter serves young people 12-17 who have run away, been abandoned, or are in conflict with their families. In addition to a caring and supervised setting for youth, the Safe Shelter program also provides case management and numerous supportive services with the goal of reuniting Thurston County families.
For more information, contact Development Coordinator Barbara Wakefield, 360-918-7844, or bwakefield@communityyouthservices.org.
