I’m proud to announce several major new program services at Friends of Youth that bring us closer to our goal of zero days of vulnerability for youth and young adults in our community.
Applications are now open for Iva Place Kirkland!
We have opened Iva Place Kirkland, a below-market rate apartment community for income-qualified 18 to 24-year-old young adults.
The residential apartment community has 15 units and is located at 11005 NE 68th Street in Kirkland, near Houghton Center and public transit. The units are available for individuals earning at or below 30 - 50% of Area Median Income (AMI). Seven apartments (14 of 15 units) contain individually leased, single-occupancy, private bedrooms with shared, furnished living areas, including a kitchen, living room, and bathroom(s), with utilities and wi-fi included. The 15th unit is an ADA-friendly, one-bedroom apartment. On-site parking is available on a limited basis.
More information and the application for potential tenants is available on the Iva Place Kirkland website here. Please watch a video of the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with speaker King County Executive Dow Constantine here.
Education and Employment Services at Friends of Youth.
We are enhancing our employment and education resources.
Marisa Mondave, MPH, has joined Friends of Youth as our Manager of Education and Employment Services. Our Youth Employment Program provides comprehensive employment services and job-readiness skills to youth and young adults, ages 18 - 24, who are experiencing homelessness in King County. We also offer individually focused continued education support for current clients for local GED programs, colleges (two-year and four-year), and vocational training. For more information, please email eduemploy.support@friendsofyouth.org.
King County Safe Place expands with New Shoreline Fire Department Partnership.
Our outreach to vulnerable youth has been recognized nationally and continues to expand to new Safe Place sites.
Our Safe Place program continues to expand and includes several recent additions of six firehouses in Shoreline. Friends of Youth is the only nonprofit agency that manages the Safe Place program in King County. Safe Place is a national program that helps vulnerable youth, ages 12 to 17, connect to safety and resources, including appropriate shelter and support services. In King County, the program provides a 24-hour/seven-day-a-week hotline and various Safe Place site locations, including all King County Library branches and many nonprofit organizations.
Earlier this year, Friends of Youth’s Safe Place Program Coordinators Sara Clinton and Jenny Buehler were recognized by the National Safe Place Network (NSPN) for their outstanding work. Friends of Youth’s Safe Place program was recognized as one of the top five agencies nationally for the highest number of youth receiving information about Safe Place via outreach efforts in the first quarter of 2024.
More information on the Safe Place program is available on our website at friendsofyouth.org/services. Youth ages 12 to 17 who need assistance can text or call anytime at 1.800.422.TEEN (8336).
We invite you to partner in our work this fall as stakeholders, volunteers, and donors. Learn more about the many ways you can join us in supporting youth, young adults and families living with great challenges by visiting friendsofyouth.org/support-us.