Mission

YouthCare works to end youth homelessness and to ensure that young people are valued for who they are and empowered to achieve their potential.

Vision

YouthCare envisions a community where no young person experiences homelessness, all young people have the opportunity to thrive, and the systems that oppress them are dismantled.

Values

Safety:All young people deserve a secure, stable, and healthy environment.

Respect:We center our workincompassion and dignity for others and the belief that all young people should be valued.

Empowerment:We promote a culture that encourages staff and youth to develop their own strengths, and that champions their growth and successes.

Dependability:We are unwavering in our commitment to young people and can be trusted to provide consistent, high quality, and sustainable care.

Social Justice:To end youth homelessness we must name and actively work to dismantle those systems that have created injustices for people of color, LGBTQ+, and immigrant communities.Click here to read our statement on social justice and racial equity.

Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion:We embrace diversity, assure fair treatment, and provide equitable access to opportunities.

Leadership:We lead and advocate for changes that benefit young people by leveraging the collective power and influence of our youth, staff, board, and partners.

Collaboration:We can achieve more for young people by collaborating with and learning from partners and inspiring the community to take action.

YouthCare works to end youth homelessness and to ensure that young people are valued for who they are and empowered to achieve their potential. Founded in 1974, YouthCare was one of the first shelters to serve runaway and homeless youth on the West Coast. The goal was to help young people find safety today and build a future for tomorrow. This passionate visionwhere no young person experiences homelessness, all young people can thrive, and the systems that oppress them are dismantleddrives YouthCare every day. Over four decades, YouthCare has defined best practices and developed programs that set a national standard for excellence.

YouthCare currently operates 14 sites across Seattle and serves over 1,800 young people every year. Each young person receives individualized, comprehensive care tailored to their unique needs and goals. Through comprehensive services, including outreach, prevention, shelter, housing, education, and employment training, as well as a range of community partnerships, such as legal aid, behavioral healthcare, and post-secondary support, YouthCare ensures that young people experiencing homelessness have the hope, skills, and self-confidence needed to achieve long-term stability.