YouthCare

Mission

YouthCare works to end youth homelessness and to ensure that young people are valued for who they are and empowered to achieve their potential.

Description

YouthCare works to end youth homelessness and to ensure that young people are valued for who they are and empowered to achieve their potential. Founded in 1974, YouthCare was one of the first shelters to serve runaway and homeless youth on the West Coast. The goal was to help young people find safety today and build a future for tomorrow. This passionate vision-where no young person experiences homelessness, all young people can thrive, and the systems that oppress them are dismantled-drives YouthCare every day. Over four decades, YouthCare has defined best practices and developed programs that set a national standard for excellence.

YouthCare currently operates 15 sites across Seattle and serves over 1,500 young people every year. Each young person receives individualized, comprehensive care tailored to their unique needs and goals. Through comprehensive services, including outreach, prevention, shelter, housing, education, and employment training, as well as a range of community partnerships, such as legal aid, behavioral healthcare, and post-secondary support, YouthCare ensures that young people experiencing homelessness have the hope, skills, and self-confidence needed to achieve long-term stability.