Family Homelessness Prevention

Emily Un, a high school senior in West Seattle, organized a coat and blanket drive with the hope to give back to people in need of keeping warm during these cold months ahead. “I believe many of us don’t realize how much we have in life and that we can give so much back to the people that need it so much more!” explains Emily.

“The story belongs to the storyteller.” Eric Bronson from YWCA shared tips for ensuring you are making accommodations that enable more people to be included in storytelling, such as providing help with transportation, childcare and scheduling, as well as an often overlooked element: food.

The city’s education department recently announced a $400,000 initiative with YWCA to help youth experiencing homelessness. YWCA will use the money to prevent families from becoming homeless, help them secure permanent housing, improve attendance for students and reduce the number of transfers between schools.