Press Releases

Today, Congresswoman Suzan DelBene announced that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded two grants to Friends of Youth: $149,500 to support their Basic Center Program, which works to meet immediate needs of runaway and homeless youth, and $139,776 for their Street Outreach Program, which works to help young people get off the streets.  
“Friends of Youth makes a big difference in the lives of young people in the 1^st Congressional District,” said Rep. DelBene. “These grants will help them continue the important work they are doing on behalf of vulnerable, at-risk youth throughout our community.”

“These HHS grants are crucial to our ability to respond to and resolve youth homelessness in our community,” said Terry Pottmeyer, President and CEO of Friends of Youth. “We are so grateful for this foundational support for homeless youth in King County.”

HHS’s Basic Center Program, administered by the Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB), works to strengthen community-based programs that meet the immediate needs of runaway and homeless youth and their families. The programs provide youth up to age 18 with emergency shelter, food, clothing, counseling and referrals for health care. Basic centers seek to reunite young people with their families, whenever possible, or to locate appropriate alternative placements. For more on the Basic Center Program, click HERE.

The Street Outreach Program, also administered by FYSB, promotes efforts to build relationships between street outreach workers and runaway, homeless and street youth. Grantees also provide support services that aim to move youth into stable housing and prepare them for independence. The program’s ultimate goal is to prevent the sexual abuse or exploitation of young people living on the streets or in unstable housing. For more about the Street Outreach Program, click HERE.