Youth + Young Adults

First stop:

The YouthCare Orion Center helps youth ages 12-24. They have hot meals, know the city’s youth resources well, and can provide referrals and guidance to other services. If you want help and are 24 or under I strongly recommend going there and getting directed.
https://youthcare.org/homeless-youth-services/engagement-services/youthcares-orion-center/

Additionally, Atlantic Street Center provides a variety of resources for children and youth from education to behavioral health.
https://atlanticstreetcenter.org/

Shelters:

• ROOTS shelter in the U District also serves youth and young adults. https://rootsinfo.org/
  • If you need shelter, call (206) 632-1635 or come to their door between 8:00 PM and 8:30 PM to ask to be placed on the list for that night. Doors open at 9.
• New Horizons Ministries has several locations serving youth https://nhmin.org/get-help/
  • You can call, 206.374.0866 , starting at 6am.
• YouthCare, discussed above, has some beds for overnight stay at the Orion Center and other locations. https://youthcare.org/homeless-youth-services/shelter-housing/shelter/
  • Best way is to go in, though you can call (206) 622-5555 to check availability.

If you’re 24 or under and imminently facing homelessness in Seattle, you can do Coordinated Entry 14 days before you expect to be unhoused. This is the main way to access longer-term supportive housing programs in the city. You can do this at YouthCare above, or by going to PEER Seattle on Monday mornings at 10am.
(25+ can also do CE, but you have to already be unhoused, whereas those 24 and under can do it before they lose housing.)

Jobs and Apprenticeships

Coffee Tab

For anyone 16-23. Seattle cafe that provides an eight-week paid apprenticeship for young adults seeking a career in the coffee industry. They pay $21/hr, with 8-10 hours per week at first, building to 15-20 hrs/wk. At the end of the apprenticeship, you create polished resumes and are connected with local specialty coffee shops. Applications are available at https://www.coffeetab.cafe/apprenticeships, and applicants should focus on their personal narrative + what they’re looking for from Coffee Tab.

Other benefits

• Youth up to 18 ride free on local transit. Details: https://info.myorca.com/youth-ride-free/

Job Corps

For anyone 24 and under who wants to GTFO where they are: Job Corps can be a good resource. It costs no money — they have residential centers where you live in their dorms for free, receive a basic living stipend, and receive active training for a job or trade; they also help you find employment after graduation. It’s a very rigorous structure with a lot of rules; think like boarding school or the military. The nearest residential location to Seattle is near Bellingham (we can help you get there!) but there’s locations all over the country. https://www.jobcorps.gov/explore. They also have non-residential training programs. If pursuing a residential program (or anywhere else you will be living and working), try and look online to find specific accounts from folks who attended the specific program and location you’re interested in talking about their experiences there.

Finding Community

In Seattle, Lambert House is a great place for queer minors and youth up to age 22.
The Vera Project also has great concerts, programs, events, and more for those of all ages!

Healthcare for Youth under 18:

Unaccompanied Youth or Youth living without parental support:
Youth under 18 have some rights to access healthcare without parental consent in Washington State. See more information here: Can a minor consent chart? and When can a minor access health care without parental consent?

Youth do have clear rights to access mental and reproductive healthcare without parental consent in Washington State. Sometimes youth can access aspects of gender affirming care if it can be framed as reproductive or mental healthcare.

While youth do have a right to access gender-affirming care under the mature minor doctrine in Washington State, many medical providers will not provide care under this doctrine due to fear of lawsuits.

Youth with parental support
There are fewer barriers to accessing gender affirming care for youth if they have parental support. A good place to start is to reach out to affirming providers in your local community or talk to your insurance provider. See general healthcare information above to learn more about finding local healthcare options and navigating insurance.

Seattle Children’s has a wait list for services, but has quality and comprehensive gender care for youth. Their website has helpful information about gender care for youth: https://www.seattlechildrens.org/clinics/gender-clinic/