Homeless Services
Too often youth find themselves in difficult situations with no place to go and no one to call. Whether it is crashing on a friend’s couch for a couple of nights or setting up a tent in the woods, once a youth enters into homelessness they begin wrestling with a host of challenges. Nexus Youth and Families understand these challenges and offer a variety of services to help young people meet them. From education to basic needs, Nexus Youth and Families is client focused and client driven. We believe that young people are the experts in their own lives and know what support they need; and what support they are ready for. We are here to provide youth in crisis with a place to go and someone to call.
Programs
Supportive Housing
To access Nexus Youth and Families’ housing programs, youth must complete a Coordinated Entry for All (CEA) assessment. Please call 211 to schedule an intake, or visit this website.
Housing Navigation Program
Staff will provide scheduled and walk-in CEA housing assessments for homeless young adults and ensure they are aware of emergency shelter options. As part of the initial meeting, staff will review information on eligibility for CEA and review what housing resources the young adult may be referred to based on their vulnerability score. To help facilitate walk-in availability, agencies will determine a schedule that will allow participants to receive housing assessments in a timely manner.
Severson Program
The Severson Program is a 10 unit transitional housing program located in Auburn, WA. The program is designed to help homeless young adults and families, ages 18-24, transition from homelessness to independence. The Severson Program blends housing, case management, and life skills, to assist in the young adult’s transition to independent living. The focus of the program is to further the young adult’s education and employment skills to support participants becoming responsible, productive, and independent young adults. Severson housing is accessed through CEA.
ACE Project (Acceptance, Compassion, Equity)
The ACE Project is a scattered-site housing program serving 8 young adults ages 18-24, and is specifically tailored to young adults who identify as LGBTQ and homeless.
RISE Project
The RISE Project (Re-Investment in Self Empowerment) is a transitional housing project serving young adults ages 18-24 years old. The RISE Project houses 8 young adults in 4 shared apartment units in Kent and offers intensive case management and support over an 18-month period. This is a CEA housing resource. For more information on this program, call (253) 350-2649.
Emergency Housing
Arcadia Youth Shelter- Ages 18-24
Young adults ages 18-24 can access shelter 7 nights/week by arriving at 915 H St SE at 9:45pm for lineup. Doors open at 10:00pm, and guests have an opportunity to eat, shower, and relax before bedtime. Everyone is woken up at 7:00am and out the door by 7:45am with a light snack. Reserved beds are available for first-timers, or those working with case managers in some cases. We also have beds available for anyone referred by law enforcement. For more information, or to secure a bed tonight, please call 253-740-7189.
Arcadia Drop-In Center
Drop-in serves a variety of youth and young adults in the community. Direct access to case management, basic needs, laundry, lockers, recreational activities, meals and more are provided to help stabilize youth immediately. Connections to other services throughout the youth and young adult provider continuum are also provided.
South King Youth Shelter (SKYS)- Ages 12-17
Temporary 24-hour shelter for youth ages 12-17 experiencing crises. Youth are provided meals and are connected with services, such as transitional housing, mental health counseling and GED classes. For more information or for a referral call 253-275-1634 or Cell (253) 350-0443.
Best Starts for Kids
Best Starts for Kids (BSK) is an initiative to improve the health and well-being of King County by investing in prevention and early intervention for children, youth, families, and communities. BSK is intended to prevent and divert children and youth and their families from becoming first time homeless. Case Manager will provide the support needed to ensure that unaccompanied youth / young adults (ages 12-24) and families (with a youth birth- 24yo) at imminent risk of homelessness have access to the resources needed to avoid entering the homeless system; and, to remain stably housed over time. Learn more about BSK here.
Diversion
Diversion is a flexible fund source to help young adults 18-24yo who are un-housed or unstably housed. Diversion is a tool that quickly addresses a young person’s housing crisis by providing short-term, flexible financial assistance to create a long-term solution (stability for 3months). The term “diversion” refers to diverting a youth from entering, or providing immediate exit from, the homeless housing system (e.g. placement in shelter or Coordinated Entry for All placements for transitional living programs, permanent supportive housing, etc.).
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