Lake Forest Park Rotary - Homeless Youth Project

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Did you know that there are over 300 homeless students in the Shoreline School District, and approximately 100 of them are homeless high school students?

Did you know that after the age of 14, a young man is no longer welcome in any of the local shelters?

Did you know that although there are many services available for single mothers with children and for homeless families there are absolutely no services specifically designed for homeless youth in our area?

The problem of homelessness in the Shoreline/Lake Forest Park community is an unseen yet rapidly growing issue. In response to this, the Rotary Club of Lake Forest Park has formed the Homeless Youth Project (HYP) to help address the specific problem of homeless high school students, a seriously underserved segment of the homeless population.

Over the last two years, the HYP committee members have toured local shelters, met with area service providers (Dale Turner Y, Vision House, Teen Link, NUHSA, Mary’s House, etc.), and worked with the Shoreline School District Family Advocates, Student Services Administrators, and PTA to determine how we might help.

Our initial approach was to provide funds for immediate needs such as transportation vouchers, gift cards to area grocery stores, winter coats, and meal vouchers for summer lunches.

All of these donations are necessary and helpful for immediate needs. But in order to truly improve the situation of our homeless teens in a long-term and sustainable way, we realized that a larger, more permanent solution was required.

We are now focused on working with local Shoreline and LFP City Administrators, Community Partners, and established Service Providers to expand youth services to our community, and to establish a Resource Center that will serve both families AND homeless youth.

This Resource Center will help identify temporary and long-term housing for homeless teens to help them complete their high school education and prepare for a successful life adventure, and provide additional services for homeless families. The Center will:

• Focus specifically on the Shoreline/Lake Forest Park geographic area.
• Be centrally located, with staff and published hours of operation. 
• Compile and update contact information for all available services. 
• Create an online resource/website to make these services easily accessible. 
• Act as a central location for the distribution of Transportation Passes, Gift Cards, and Meal Tickets.
• Provide a safe and clean space for homeless students to study, do laundry, shower, and get a meal. 

The Rotary Club of Lake Forest Park invites all of you to join us in helping address the homeless problem in our community. We are particularly focused on our homeless youth. We would love to hear your thoughts and ideas.

To learn more about this project, the Rotary Club of Lake Forest Park meets every week at 7:15am Wednesday at the Lake Forest Park Presbyterian Church, 17440 Brookside Blvd NE, Lake Forest Park 98155. Please join us for a free breakfast or email George Piano at glpiano684@gmail.com for more information.