The Licensed Overnight Youth Shelter grant is a state grant used to assist five licensed overnight youth shelters to meet the minimum licensing requirements under RCW 43.63A.

The five licensed overnight youth shelters in the state are in Grays Harbor, King, Skagit, Snohomish, and Spokane counties serving children ages 13 through 17 who have run away or are homeless due to family problems or dysfunctions. (In June 2008 a sixth overnight youth shelter was licensed in Clallam County.) According to Senate Bill 6392, the Legislature found that licensed overnight youth shelters provide essential services that protect the health, welfare, and safety of our state’s youth. Due to the cost of meeting the licensing requirements established by the Department of Social and Health Services, the Legislature intended to provide a nominal amount of state financial support in order to assist the shelters in meeting state-established standards and to leverage other local and private funds more effectively.

In 2007-08, $120,000 was distributed equally to each of the five licensed overnight youth shelters in the state.

The funds may be used for:

• Additional staff necessary to meet licensing requirements
• Facility maintenance, if necessary, to meet facility standards
• Food, beds or supplies needed to maintain an overnight youth shelter license with DSHS

During the 2007-08 contract period, the Overnight Youth Shelter grant assisted in providing 7,122 bednights of shelter to 426 youth.

For More Information

Conact Kathy Giglio at (360) 725-2939.