The Campaign to Prevent & End Youth and Young Adult Homelessness in Pierce County
How the Campaign Started
While there is significant and important work occurring, there is no single entity, group, or person with the mission of aligning providers, funders, and young people behind a common vision and purpose.
In October 2018, a small workgroup of providers, funders, government entities, and community leaders came together to discuss emerging questions and concerns. The result of these discussions was a proposal to develop and seed a comprehensive 10 to 15-year campaign to end youth and young adult homelessness in Pierce County (coined YYA Campaign).
Because others are managing service provision and immediate needs, the YYA Campaign’s focus is on addressing the root causes of YYA homelessness in Pierce County and long-term system changes.
Campaign Director
Rodney Robinson began his career in housing in 2008. Since that time he has served as an emergency housing case manager for families, lead case manager for young adult transitional housing programs, and support both youth and young adults in foster care.
He believes that is paramount to work with our young adult leaders to create solutions that are long lasting and provide an authentic opportunity to build skills that ensure any experience with housing is short lived and one time occurrence. Rodney Began working as the Director of the Campaign in April 2021
Campaign Advisory Chair
Lyle Quasim previously served ad the Secretary of the Washington State Department of Social and Health Service. Quasim has also served as the State Psychiatric Hospital Director, State Mental Health Director, Chief of Staff for the Pierce County Executive and the President of Bates Technical College.
In a volunteer capacity Quasim is a Trustee of the University of Puget Sound, and Board member of the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, American Leadership Forum, University of Washington Tacoma and Chair of the Tacoma Pierce County Black Collective.
Quasim has a degrees from the Universities of Puget Sound and Pacific Lutheran University and has lived in Pierce County since 1967.
Advisory Council
- Lyle Quasim, Chair-Community Member
- Rev. Malando Redeemer - Pierce County NAACP
- Vy Vuy
- Claudia Miller
- Troy Christensen
- Karl Smith
Campaign Partners and Funders
Thank you to our founding supporters who created the vision and funded this campaign.
- Greater Tacoma Community Foundation
- Ben B. Cheney Foundation
- The Bamford Foundation
- The Forest Foundation
- The Sequoia Foundation