The Campaign to Prevent & End Youth and Young Adult Homelessness in Pierce County
Information and Resources
The William D. Ruckelshaus Center Pathways to Housing Security
The William D. Ruckelshaus Center is a neutral resource for collaborative problem solving in the State of Washington and the Pacific Northwest, dedicated to assisting public, private, tribal, non-profit, and other community leaders in their efforts to build consensus and resolve conflicts around difficult public policy issues. It is a joint effort of the University of Washington (hosted by the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy and Governance) and Washington State University (hosted and administered by WSU Extension).
STATUS OF STAKEHOLDER DISCUSSIONS YEAR 2 REVISED - DECEMBER 23, 2022
The Mockingbird Society
Mockingbird Youth Programs is a statewide coalition of powerful young people affected by foster care and/or homelessness. Through Chapters located across the state, Summit brings together young people who have experienced the child welfare system or our state’s homeless youth response system first-hand so that they can present not just issues, but solutions - so that tomorrow’s youth do not have to face the same challenges they have.
A Way Home Washington
A Way Home Washington is a statewide movement to prevent and end youth and young adult homelessness, with a focus on prioritizing young people of color and LGBTQ+ young people who experience homelessness at higher rates than their white, straight, cisgender peers. We provide strategic statewide support and intensive support in communities participating in our flagship program, the Anchor Communities Initiative, to inform, grow, and sustain change efforts.
Working together with Washington’s Office of Homeless Youth, we are building a system that is data-informed, performance-based, equity-driven and holds young people and families at the center.
Pierce County
In March 2022, Pierce County officially adopted a Comprehensive Plan to End Homelessness. This plan aims to document the scale of the need and design a system to end homelessness in Pierce County. We know that increased funding for services and more affordable housing units are needed to drive real sustainable solutions. Pierce County does not have enough housing for all its residents, and much of its housing is not accessible to our lowest earners, but we are on the way to making significant change through historic funding investments in housing and homelessness - $250 million over the next two years.
The Reach Center-Youth Action Board
The Youth Action Board (YAB) is a collective of young people aged 13-24 who have current or past experience of homelessness. YAB members help guide the implementation of the Coordinated Entry System, continuous quality improvement strategies and are decision influencers in Pierce County.