YouthCare works to end youth homelessness and to ensure that young people are valued for who they are and empowered to achieve their potential.
YouthCare opened the Orion Center in 1984. At the time, it was one of the first programs in the nation to receive a federal grant enabling six agencies working with runaway and homeless youth to co-locate in one building. These multiple partners created a constellation of services—thus, the name Orion. Located on the corner of Denny and Stewart, the Orion Center serves as a safe and welcoming place for young people ages 12-24 throughout the day.
Orion’s engagement services include:
- Warm meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Hygiene supplies such as showers, laundry, clothing, and lockers
- Afternoon drop-in services with activities such as tutoring, yoga, art, cooking, and classes
- Case managers who work with young people to reduce barriers and set goals for long-term housing and stability
- Onsite clinic run by Kaiser Permanente
- Onsite specialized case management through the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center
- Onsite legal aid offered through the Legal Counsel for Children & Youth
- Onsite mental health and chemical dependency counseling offered through Ryther Center for Children & Youth