Seattle Street Youth Empowerment Project

Vital Stats

Jaison B

Seattle, WA

  • people helped1
  • People Doing It5

The Problem

I am in the process of starting a non-profit called “Seattle Street Youth Empowerment Project”. The program, a homeless youth-run respite from the streets, will fill a service gap that exists on Sundays for homeless youth. Most social services for street affected youth run Monday through Friday—leaving youth on the streets on the weekends. While not in program, youth face the elements on the streets. Rain, cold weather, peer pressure and the drug culture lead youth to fall off the path they’ve set to get off the streets. On the weekends, homeless youth have no support networks in place to keep them moving towards their goals—this is something SSYEP hopes to address. In addition, homeless youth in Seattle are not empowered to take charge of their journey off the streets. Youth are assigned a “case manager”, a person who takes on the responsibility of connecting youth to resources to get them off the streets. Instead of this system which puts the onus of effort on the “case manager”, SSYEP places the responsibility of service provision on the youth themselves.

Plan of Action

So far, the organization is in its planning phase. The bylaws and articles of incorporation have been written, and a board of directors is forming. The program's day to day operations will be directed by a steering board of homeless youth who are currently accessing services—they will decide the direction of the organization and plan activities, trainings and outreach to their peers. The board of Directors (predominantly made of formerly homeless youth) will provide support to the youth, and drive fundraising to offer financial support for the organization. At the same time as I've been seeking out the Board of Directors, I have been recruiting community partners to serve meals during the weekend drop in. I have several groups prepared to commit to serving a meal monthly or quarterly. I am also currently seeking out massage practitioners and podiatrists willing to volunteer their services once a month or once a quarter. In terms of fundraising, I have applied to the Munro Fellowship at the University of Washington. I have an interview this Friday for a grant of up to $4,000 which will be used to secure mats, pillows, bedding and cover the initial costs of securing a space for the organization. I also plan to apply for the Pride Foundation and Seattle City Neighborhoods Matching Grant to raise funds necessary for continuing operation of the project. Soon, I will file the articles of incorporation with the State, as well as the master business application and charities division registration. After that, I hope to file for federal 501c3 status, and hold my first youth steering committee meeting. Already there is a palpable excitement amongst the youth I work with-- there is an incredible energy behind this project both from the youth and those currently providing services in the area. Youth workers see the project providing a much-needed sense of ownership among street youth, and the youth themselves look forward to creating an organization to meet their needs.
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Homelessness
Homelessness and Poverty

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