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Homeless young adults to have own shelter

Two Yakima churches to host program for winter support

By Molly Rosbach, Yakima Herald-Republic
Published: November 20, 2017, 9:04pm

YAKIMA — For the first time, Yakima will have a winter weather shelter this year devoted specifically to young adults.

The Young Adult Extreme Winter Weather Shelter is a collaboration among several members of the Homeless Network and will be hosted by two churches, Bethel AME and Englewood Christian Church. More churches may get involved in coming weeks.

Together, the two churches will have the capacity to shelter at night 27 young adults ages 18 to 24. There is no definite start date yet, as organizers are still seeking volunteer monitors to ensure a consistent schedule. The shelter is entirely funded by donations and staffed by volunteers.

The shelter idea came about after the Yakima County Youth Coalition was formed this summer in response to Washington state’s recently created Office of Homeless Youth under the Department of Commerce. The coalition is led by directors from Rod’s House and Yakima Neighborhood Health Services and includes representatives from local churches, the Homeless Network, Catholic Charities and the Yakima School District, among others.

Homeless young adults are often uncomfortable spending the night in shelters with older homeless adults, which leads them to couch-surf or spend more time on the street, increasing their risk of traumatic experiences and exploitation, said Josh Jackson, director of Rod’s House, which serves at-risk and homeless youths and young adults ages 13 to 24.

In a recent survey of 18-to-24-year-olds who are served by Rod’s House, Jackson said, 84 percent of the young adults said they’d be interested in staying at a young adult shelter.

“Really more than anything, they like to be around their peer group,” Jackson said.

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