How System Level Crisis Has Affected Youth And Young Adults In Pierce County

Posted on June 22, 2020 in Lived Experience, Youth and Young Adult Engagement, Youth Homelessness

Youth, young adults, and alumni with lived experience have the wisdom and expertise we need to develop effective solutions to youth and young adult homelessness. Brianna is a member of the Pierce Anchor Community Initiative Core Team, and this is her story of how the current public health crisis has affected life and access to […]

Orgullosa: The Intersections in Our Identities

Posted on June 16, 2020 in Equity, Pride

When I wrote about the reasons why I choose to use the word Latinx, for myself and for A Way Home Washington’s organizational voice, I touched on the fact that within the community there are vast differences of opinion on the word. You’ll likely find just as many cases for embracing the word as you’ll […]

We Can’t Collect Data Without Shifting Culture

Posted on June 16, 2020 in Equity, Pride

June is Pride Month! To commemorate the Stonewall riots that took place in late June 1969, each year, across the United States, we join in countless festivities to honor the past. As we are continually reminded, during these revolutionary times, that riots have led to civil rights for marginalized communities, I wanted to turn our […]

Ending Police Violence Is Our Fight

Posted on June 8, 2020 in Equity

Our Coaching and Improvement Coordinator Isaac explains why our sector cannot sit on the sidelines as our communities fight to end police violence. Please help us elevate community organizers’ demands in Seattle and send a message to Mayor Jenny Durkan calling for less policing and more community-based solutions, I can’t start writing without acknowledging #GeorgeFloyd […]

Responding to Crisis in our Anchor Communities

Posted on May 15, 2020 in Anchor Community Initiative, COVID-19

Communities around the state have been rallying to support young people experiencing housing instability as the COVID-19 outbreak unfolds, and our Anchor Communities are no exception. Anchor Community Core Team meetings have provided a space for communities to strategize around ways to respond to young people’s needs during these difficult times. Check out the strategies […]

Helping Young People Receive the Stimulus Payment

Posted on May 15, 2020 in COVID-19, Youth and Young Adult Engagement

In a matter of weeks, the COVID-19 outbreak has created the conditions that could lead to a huge influx in our state’s youth homelessness system. A spike in unemployment, an economic downturn, instability in every sense. All this puts young people who’ve worked very hard to secure stable housing at risk of returning to homelessness. […]

Safe Housing and Environmental Justice

Posted on April 20, 2020 in Equity

On Earth Day, our Communications Director Sully reflects on how safe housing and environmental justice are intertwined. When Governor Inslee kept $500,000 towards the Centralized Diversion Fund in the final state budget, we all let out a sigh of relief at A Way Home Washington. We knew that the COVID-19 outbreak meant lower revenues than […]

What Does Diversity Mean to Us?

Posted on April 20, 2020 in Equity

Since 2004, April has been designated Celebrate Cultural Diversity Month. We took a moment to reflect on how the conversation around diversity has changed over time, and how diversity, equity, and inclusion show up in our work and in our lives. Here’s what staff have to say: How has the meaning of diversity evolved for […]

What’s Next for the Anchor Community Initiative?

Posted on March 31, 2020 in Anchor Community Initiative, Equity, Youth and Young Adult Engagement

Our Anchor Communities have been making amazing progress to end youth and young adult homelessness, with one community reaching quality real-time data, and three out of four communities have completed the By-Name List Scorecard. It feels like the perfect time to highlight what’s next for A Way Home Washington and the Anchor Community Initiative. As […]