Youth Connection seeks food donations and funding support as it readies transitional housing
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Summary
Youth Connection reported serving hundreds of young people and asked for community food donations while pursuing funding to build 12 transitional housing units; the organization said it used a CHIP grant to advance the project and will apply to the housing trust fund next.
Alex Banks, outreach coordinator and supervisor for the Youth Connection, told Mason County commissioners the nonprofit served 545 young people at its Shelton center in August and about 30 at the Belfair center, with six new clients at Belfair during the month. Banks said the program housed six young people into permanent housing in August and prevented two additional households from becoming homeless.
Banks said the program provided 390 hot meals and distributed 48 take‑home food bags in August and that food supplies are running low. He asked the public to donate pop‑top canned foods and ready‑to‑eat items (for clients without can openers or kitchen access), boxed pasta and proteins that the organization can store in its freezer. He also described a planned food‑drive/haunted‑house fundraiser to restock the pantry before a planned remodel.
Banks said the Youth Connection is moving forward on a building remodel to create 12 transitional units and that a CHIP grant has advanced the project one step. He said the next application will be to the housing trust fund; if awarded, that funding would fully fund the project and allow the organization to open the housing units. He asked commissioners and the community for continued partnership to prevent and end youth homelessness in Mason County.
No formal action was taken by the board during the public comment period. Commissioners and staff in the meeting acknowledged the program’s work and the need for community support and will direct constituents to the Youth Connection for donation information.