|
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, July 3, 2008
| Contact: |
Charles
Shelan, Director, Community Youth Services, 360-943-0780 |
|
Dwight Edwards, Community Housing Program Coordinator, 360-709-3003 |
Grant Will
Provide Housing for At-Risk Youth in
Thurston
County
OLYMPIA
–
Thurston
County
and Community Youth Services (CYS) have received preliminary approval for a
nearly $1,000,000 grant that will provide housing assistance for at-risk
youth.
The
applicants were recently notified of the award of the Homeless Grant
Assistance Program
(HGAP)
funding. The State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED)
will provide up to $994,650 for a homeless prevention program for high-risk
youth ages 18-23 before they leave the correctional or court systems. The
program will provide rental assistance and support services in leased housing
for the youth as they reenter the community.
Community
Youth Services is a non-profit agency in
Olympia
whose mission is to support youth and families in achieving their needs for a
healthy, safe and secure community. Director
Charles Shelan says they are calling this program “Empowering Change through
Housing and Opportunities” or ECHO. Shelan
says, "Stability and hope are essential to young people as they leave the
correctional and court systems. This new add-on to Community Youth Services'
existing transitional housing program will provide young adults with a stable
place to live as they begin to access educational, employment and treatment
opportunities within our community." Estimates
show that the ECHO grant program will serve 22 young adults every year, before
they leave the law and justice system so CYS can immediately begin helping
those who have nowhere to go - and no resources.
Thurston
County Community Housing Program Coordinator Dwight Edwards says the support
of local officials was very helpful in obtaining the grant.
“The Housing Consortium, made up of local elected officials, and the
Thurston County Commissioners, along with CYS, were very instrumental in
demonstrating the need and outlining the programs that this grant will help to
address”.
For
more information on
Thurston
County
housing programs please visit the County Website at http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/bocc/homeinvestment/index.htm
For more information on Community Youth Services,
please go their Website at http://www.communityyouthservices.org/
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