See It: The Community being helped

A new dynamic program has been launched in King County called the Backpack Project. The objective of this program is to encourage local homeless and transitional youth to become more self sufficient. In Seattle, there is an estimated 800 young people ages 12-24 who don't have a safe place to sleep on any given night. The number for the rest of King County could be double or even triple that estimate. With the population rising rapidly each year, the numbers of homeless individuals including homeless youth will also increase unless something is done.

The Backpack Project's executive board members are working with youth centered social service providers in the area and eventually will supply these agencies with backpacks stuffed with essential items for homeless youth. The backpacks will contain items such as toiletries, clothing, resource guides, bus passes and food. The youth must participate in programs established by our allied agencies in order to receive a backpack.

Eventually, as the program expands, youth will be given the opportunity to help stuff backpacks and receive a stipend pay for their efforts. They will also have a chance to take on leadership roles in the organization by outreaching to other homeless youth, participating in board meetings and assisting with administrative functions.

Although the Backpack Project is in the beginning stages, our recent fundraising efforts have been successful. The board put on a art auction celebration complete with bands, DJs and other entertainment. This brought in some funds but in order to fulfill the vision of this essential program , more donations are necessary. Please help us fund this groundbreaking new program.

See It: The Community being helped

The Transitional Living Program is designed to assist homeless youth and young adults with an opportunity to learn the skills necessary to live independently and to gain the self-esteem necessary to survive without living on the streets. This program offers youth and young adults the opportunity to learn employability skills, housekeeping skills, build a resume, and in many cases, learn a different parenting style. The youth that are served by this program are assigned a casemanager that meets with them on a weekly basis. The program places these youth and young adults in scattered site housing (in thier own apartment) and works with them on teaching skills such as budgeting, housekeeping, cooking and positive recreation. Many of the youth that we work with have been neglected as a child, physically and emotionally abused and/or told that they would never amount to anything. This program works with youth to change and streghthen thier own perception of who and what they can be. We work with youth and young adults 16-29 years old. The vast majority of youth and young adults that come to use have nothing accept the clothes that they are wearing. The programs provides all enrolled youth with a starter kit including pots and pans, towels, silverware, glasses, plates, toasters, cooking utensils, salt and pepper shakers etc. The program also trys to provide furniture such as a couch, bed and chairs for the apartment when it is available. Rental assistance is offered to all participants so assist them in getting on thier feet. The program will then work with the participant to pay rent and learn the process of budgeting all bills. The average length of stay is 16 months.