In the past year, 19-year-old Emily went from sleeping in a car to getting her own bed at a home in Thurston County. After she moved away from a family situation that no longer worked for her, the formerly homeless youth often spent the night at a friend’s house or in a car when she didn’t have a place to stay.
Eventually, a friend told her about a housing program at Community Youth Services that helped her secure more permanent housing.
“It opened up a huge window for me because I ended up getting a job and my own place,” Emily said. “It gave me actual stability.”
Gov. Jay Inslee has advanced an aggressive effort to address homelessness for all populations, and he is particularly supportive of creative, innovative approaches that create affordable housing in the long term.
First lady Trudi Inslee visited with Emily during a tour of her new home Monday through a partnership with nonprofits CYS and Homes First. One group provides social services, the other provides an affordable home by purchasing the property.
Read the rest of the story on the governor's Medium page.