Yakima’s Rod House Gets Big Money to Help Homeless Youth

The state is helping kids who are homeless in Yakima and in many other parts of Washington. Washington’s Office of Homeless Youth in the Department of Commerce has announced $4.8 million in grants to 19 organizations, including Rods House in Yakima to help prevent what state officials call "housing instability among young people."

THE MONEY IN YAKIMA WILL HELP IN A VARIETY OF WAYS INCLUDING THOSE SEEKING "PROTECTED HEALTH CARE SERVICES" IN WA

State officials say the grants will fund school-based interventions, crisis interventions to help youth and families resolve conflict, and "support to youth seeking protected health care services."
Yakima's Rod’s House is expected to receive $302,500 in funding to create Community Support Teams for kids looking for shelter to find solutions resolving family conflict and "obtaining and maintaining long-term stable housing"

MANY HOMELESS KIDS COUCH SURF INSTEAD OF SLEEPING ON STREETS

“Our goal is to meet young people struggling with housing stability where they are, whether that’s at school, in a shelter, or through their interaction with the health care system,” says Office of Homeless Youth Executive Director Kim Justice.  “These grants will help provide the specialized supports they need.”

APPARENTLY A LOT OF BACKGROUND WORK HAPPENED BEFORE THE GRANTS WERE AWARDED

State officials say the Community Support Teams grant is a new program a result of legislation passed last year. The Office of Homeless Youth spent months during listening sessions to learn what communities needed to help homeless kids.
A press release says Washington’s Office of Homeless Youth is part of the Washington State Department of Commerce "which funds programs aimed at addressing homelessness and affordable housing across the state."
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